By: Imogen Farris, Arts & Living Editor
KSU’s Sports and Recreation Park hosted the third annual Owl-O-Ween Hot Air Balloon Festival on Oct. 23 and 24 that drew in more than 42,000 visitors. The two-day event featured activities for people of all ages, including trick-or-treating, vendors, food trucks, and performers spread throughout. Performers included skilled circus acts, performers with fire whips and batons, and Kennesaw’s own improv society. Night Owl Productions, a student led Production Company employed with only KSU students, ran the event.
Before entering the stadium on Friday night, the balloons could be seen slowly rising into the air as they were filled. Thirteen hot air balloons were used, and featured many popular characters such as Tweety Bird and Sylvester the cat. The excitement could be felt all around as eager patrons waited at the main gate and the designated student gate. The student gate, dubbed the “Owl’s Nest,” was meant for KSU students aged 18 or older. However, with the two different entrance gates, many people became confused about which one to enter, as there were no signs.
Upon entering the stadium, music from Star94 could be heard from all around. The marketplace lined the edge of the field, with vendors selling items including jewelry, candles, and coffee. Dancers in costumes and full makeup entertained children, and an ice carver used a chainsaw to create a masterpiece. Many children, teenagers, and adults wore costumes, including Elsa, Batman, and Captain America. There were more interesting costumes, such as bacon and a girl wearing deer makeup and a sign reading “oh!”
Derrick Palms, the executive lead of Night Owl Productions, was very excited about this year’s event.
“We have upped the ante each year, adding more entertainment, more stages, more visual art installations,” Palms said. “We are already thinking of cool things that can be added for future years to come.”
Even though the event was held on a college campus, it was very family friendly. Children could go trick-or-treating with vendors, have their faces painted, or even ride in a hot air balloon for a once in a lifetime experience. It was also a great opportunity to try out their Halloween costumes for this year.
The event was very popular amongst college students. Payton Butler and Kristen Persaud, both freshmen at KSU, had nothing but positive notes.
“It’s so pretty,” Butler, a graphics communication major, said. “They have a lot of really cool free stuff for students.”
When asked about her experience so far at KSU, Persuad was more than happy to answer. “I didn’t expect to feel so welcome,” Persuad said.
The event would not have occurred without the hard work from Night Owl Productions. “Approximately 100 Night Owls work to set, run, and strike the event and an additional 125 volunteers helped on event days with a variety of tasks,” Palms said. “This is our own 100% self produced event, which is a great feeling to know that students are able to run a two day festival.”
Before the event, Palms mentioned the event was set to attract over 40,000 people from all over the southeast. “Owl-O-Ween is an event that builds community traditions and connections,” Palms said.
With the event continuing to expand each year, it can only be expected that next years Owl-O-Ween will be even more exciting and entertaining than before.
