Ella Sharp Park was filled with the glow of hot air balloons as bystanders watched with excitement during the annual Hot Air Jubilee this past weekend, presented by American 1 Credit Union.
The event, which occurred at Ella Sharp Park from July 23 to July 25, featured the renowned hot air balloon competition with 28 participating pilots, as well as an auto show, the Jackson Blues Festival, several food vendors, the Kids Kingdom, and more. People of all ages gathered to enjoy and observe the long-standing Jackson tradition.
Despite the rain on Saturday, which caused the balloon launch to be canceled for the day, community members still gathered and enjoyed the event. Because hot air balloon events are always weather dependent, the Hot Air Jubilee group ensures every year there are plenty of other fun activities lined up on the schedule.
American 1 Credit Union was proud to collaborate with Hot Air Jubilee for the free event. Like American 1, the hot air ballooning community values generosity and giving back – creating a fun and enjoyable atmosphere for all.
“We are so proud to support this free community event,” said Janelle Merritt, Vice President of Community Partnerships for American 1. “There’s something about hot air balloons that brings hope and joy. The smiles on the faces of all the different people of all ages is so rewarding! Whether people packed a picnic lunch and a blanket or came out to enjoy some food from the vendors, it was great to see so many people enjoy our Michigan summer and vacation right here in their own backyards. We are fortunate that these balloon pilots are so generous with their hobby, sharing it with our community.”
Jeff Knapp, Hot Air Jubilee Event Chair, said he looks forward to this event every year and is thankful for community support.
“I want to thank American 1 Credit Union for their generosity in supporting our event, which we look forward to sharing with the community every year,” Knapp said. “I also want to thank our other sponsors and community members for coming out. This truly was a perfect weekend! We always love sharing our passion for ballooning and watching the crowd enjoy themselves.”
This was the third year American 1 Credit Union was the main sponsor of the event. There were also more than 40 other sponsors that helped make the event happen. To see the full list, visit https://www.hotairjubilee.com/sponsorship/.
Established in 1950, American 1 Credit Union today serves over 59,000 members with 16 branch locations across Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Calhoun, Lenawee, and Wayne counties. American 1 is proud to serve the members of their communities by creating financial wellness through personal everyday banking.
