Wright State alumni tower | Photo by Emily Linker | The Wright State Guardian
“The inaugural Festival of Flight is a celebration of the Miami Valley’s history of aviation” said Bing Bingham, alumni relationship specialist.
According to Bingham, the estimated attendance is over 10,000 people.
Festival of Flight will take place on Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Nutter Center back parking lot. The Alumni Association has partnered with Wright State University and the City of Fairborn as well as other key contributors to host this celebration of Miami Valley.
‘A unique fall festival’
“We are thrilled to be able to welcome more than 50 craft, non-profit and small business vendors to the festival,” said Nicole Craw, assistant director of Alumni Marketing and Communications. “Our committee wanted this to truly be a unique fall festival, one that everyone will enjoy, so we wanted to make sure to have plenty of local businesses and nonprofits selling their local merchandise and handing out information on their organizations. There will be vendors traveling from all over Ohio, including Columbus, Akron and even Toledo.”
Those attending the festival can expect to be entertained as they become immersed in the history of Fairborn and Miami Valley. Taking their “flight” theme into consideration, the Alumni Association and its partners have compiled a list of activities and events for all ages.
Music and more for the evening
There will be drones, a wind tunnel, DIY wood gliders, professional skydivers as well an inflatable zone with an Army ROTC obstacle course and other inflatable games. Starting around 7 p.m. there will be a haunted trail with the theme “fright or flight”.
Playing throughout the night will be the bands Lights Out, Summer Highway and Mad River Dogs.
Later in the night, the winner of the mascot challenge will serve as the grand marshal for the golf cart parade of student organizations.
The third-place winner of Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race, Rolling Indulgence, will be in attendance as well as many other food trucks including Greek Street, Rock Stop and Roll, Hunger Paynes and Duck Donuts.
Craft, clothing and home improvement vendors will be set up as well as the local Humane Society with animals for adoption.
Fun for all ages
“We’re the only [festival] I think that has the innovation and aviation experiential activities and the educational component, which I think is really cool,” said Greg Scharer, executive Director of Alumni Relations. “It’s on WSU’s campus, we’re an educational institution and the educational component is part of [the festival].”
With activities for all ages, Festival of Flight will bring together the Fairborn and Miami Valley community and give attendees a fun and innovative way to learn about Wright Brothers history.
