The 34th Annual JPMorganChase Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival is scheduled for August 29 - August 31, 2025.
We will welcome hot-air balloonists from all over the country at this festival. We have scheduled over 120 hot-air balloon ascensions throughout the weekend. The festival's history has evolved into a Hudson Valley tradition and has grown into a full weekend of activities, drawing thousands of visitors from all over the world. Some of the festival favorites are the evening Majestic Hot-Air Balloon Illumination Moon Glow, tethered hot-air balloon rides, full hot-air balloon flights, live music and entertainment, food trucks, family activities and more.
Born and raised in Paterson, NJ. A Montclair State University Graduate who majored in Communication Studies, Chris' career in radio includes stops in Sussex and Princeton, NJ, Hartford, New York City, Philadelphia, Miami and West Palm Beach, FL before becoming a proud resident of the Hudson Valley.
Over the years in the Hudson Valley Chris has been on a few of our local stations, including 96.1 KissFM (Top 40), Q92 (AC) & Country 107.3 WRWD. Chris is the Senior Vice President for programming for the area and has made the jump back to Q92 on mornings, Marino in the Morning with Marissa. When Chris is on-air he enjoys everything life in the valley has to offer with his wife, and two sons growing sons.
Felicia Kirschner Meyer,The Fierce and Fiery Felicia
Felicia was born and raised in the Hudson Valley! Felicia has spent almost 10 years with iHeart Hudson Valley helping to grow the various stations in the group. Not only is she Chris Marino's cohost, on Marino in the Morning on Q92, she is the area promotions director for Albany, NY, Poughkeepsie, NY and Sussex, NJ covering 17 stations in total!
When she’s not giving away stuff that doesn’t belong to her and entertaining the masses, Felicia spends time with her husband, Ben, her rescue dog, Autumn, you will catch her volunteering in the community and enjoying everything that the Hudson Valley of New York has to offer! Felicia is also an honoree of the Hudson Valley's Top 40 Under 40 Mover and Shaker Award, part of the Hudson Valley Young Professionals advisory council, on the advisory council at Dutchess Country CTI BOCES, a board member of the Hyde Park Chamber and a proud Women of Impact for the American Heart Association!
Roger & Michele Hooper own and operate Hudson Valley Balloon Adventures. Roger's first ballooning experience was taking a balloon ride at the Adirondack Balloon Festival in 1983 and he then received his commercial pilot rating in 1994. Michele got the ballooning bug very young, taking her first balloon ride when she was 10 years old, is now Crew Chief. Roger and Michele enjoy flying the majestic Hudson Valley in their balloon "Limelite" with their daughter, Erin. Roger and Michele have been Balloonmeisters for the festival since 2015. They have flown internationally including in Australia’s New Zealand, Mexico, and Canada.
