When that familiar buzzing motor sound prompts Akron residents to lift their eyes to the sky Saturday morning, it will be because the city’s inaugural Blimp Day is upon them. 

Arguably unique to the Rubber City, given Goodyear’s history here and the nearby Suffield Township home of Wingfoot One, Blimp Day will feature two blimps cruising over each of Akron’s 24 neighborhoods on Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m. to noon. 

Blimp Day will become an annual summer holiday intended to build civic pride and bring Akron residents a sightseeing activity, said Akron Mayor Shammas Malik during his State of the City address in May. 

“Well, after last year we thought, ‘What is a cool way that we can do something fun and also give us some civic pride?’” Malik said.

Wingfoot One, housed in Goodyear’s Wingfoot Lake Airship Base in Suffield Township, along with Wingfoot Two, based in Pompano Beach, Florida, will loop through each neighborhood as they head in a counter-clockwise direction through the city. (See the map below.)

Wingfoot One, housed in Goodyear’s Wingfoot Lake Airship Base in Suffield Township, along with Wingfoot Two, based in Pompano Beach, Florida, will loop through each of Akron's 24 neighborhoods as they head in a counter-clockwise direction through the city.
Wingfoot One, housed in Goodyear’s Wingfoot Lake Airship Base in Suffield Township, along with Wingfoot Two, based in Pompano Beach, Florida, will loop through each of Akron’s 24 neighborhoods as they head in a counter-clockwise direction through the city. (Courtesy of the City of Akron)

Wingfoot One is decked out in the vintage black-and-gray color scheme as Pilgrim, the first blimp Goodyear launched in June of 1925. Wingfoot Two showcases the contemporary Goodyear wingfoot logo in blue and yellow on a silver canopy. 

Flights will first touch the city’s border in the Ellet area at the designated times found below and on the official map.

  • 9:30-10 a.m.: Ellet, East Akron, Middlebury and Goodyear Heights.
  • 10-10:30 a.m.: Chapel Hill, Cascade Valley and North Hill.
  • 10:30-11 a.m.: Merriman Valley, Merriman Hills, Wallhaven, Fairlawn Heights, Northwest Akron and High Hampton.
  • 11-11:30 a.m.: Highland Square, West Akron, Sherbondy Hill, Summit Lake and Kenmore.
  • 11:30 a.m. to noon: West Hill, downtown, University Park, South Akron, Firestone Park and Coventry Crossing.

Wherever residents find themselves on Saturday, they will have an opportunity to spot the blimps as they zip by in the sky. 

Malik said that, in future years, a festival will be planned and become part of Blimp Day.

Find more information on Akron’s newest celebration here.

Community and Service Reporter (she/her)
Kelsei centers arts and culture, food and identity in her storytelling. She uses her professional experience and editorial skills to focus a community-first mindset and a strategic approach to her reporting. Kelsei’s previous reporting experiences include food, community and culture coverage at 225 Magazine in her hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Kelsei is a recent alumna of Northwestern University and a 2023 graduate of Jackson State University.