Thank you for reserving tickets to join us at our third annual GRAZE+GLOW! Below you will find all of the details needed for the event.

CONTACT US if you have questions or concerns. We are a small team, but will do our best to reply to all emails leading up to this event. Phone calls, and Facebook and Instagram messages will not be answered.

Event Details

  • RAIN DATE: Sunday, October 27 from 4:30p-7:30p

    • Gates open at 4:30pm for guests

    • Food Trucks: 4:30p-7:30p

    • Balloons arrive at 4:30 and will set up, ready to glow at dusk through 7:30p

      • Trick-or-treating begins as soon as all balloons are set up!

    • Activities: 4:30-7:00pm* – see a full activities list below.

      • Temporary tattoos will only be available from 5:00-6:00pm. The station will remain set up for anyone who like to do their own!

      • Costume Contest: all who wish to participate in the costume contest judging, please meet at Equuvation’s Horse Trailer at 6:00p!

      • Benefit Art Sale and Raffle will run from 4:30pm-7:00pm.

  • Your receipt from BetterWorld serves as your “ticket” and your name will be on our list for check-in (look for the table near the red wagon and event volunteers upon your arrival)! If you have a special pass, please show it on your phone (or printed) when you arrive at the gate.

  • All tickets are non-refundable.


Directions and Parking

  • The address and directions to Equuvation Therapy + Education Center (at Rocky Creek Ranch) are below - please be sure to read the directions carefully and follow the guidance of signs, staff and volunteers. Note: GPS may want to take you to the wrong address!

  • The event is being held in our front hay fields near the main gate – please help us keep Snow Creek Road free from traffic (volunteers and staff will be there to assist you!) We hope to stay efficient and easy by directing everyone to park and then checking in once you arrive. 

  • If you have a VIP parking pass, please have it ready to show on your phone to our gate crew so that we can direct you to the right place!

  • If you need special assistance to get around our facility, we are happy to help you - just ask when you get here or reply to this email.


Things to bring with you

  • Folding/camp chairs and lawn blankets

    • There will be some limited picnic table seating available.

  • CASH—some of our food trucks are CASH ONLY. Additionally, we hope you might feel inspired to support Equuvation through cash donations in exchange for amazing activities, handcrafted art pieces, balloon pilot autograph poster, raffle tickets for a hot air balloon ride (to be scheduled at a later date), and trick-or-treat bags. [Equuvation does also accept Venmo @equuvation and personal checks.] We do not have an ATM machine.


NOT ALLOWED

  • Pets – this is due to the noise created by the burners in the balloons and the risk of pets potentially being startled and running into the woods or out on the street. We love animals so please help us keep everyone safe by leaving yours at home. 🙂

  • Coolers – please help us support our food truck vendors who are amazing local businesses! See a list of who will be here (as well as menus) below!

  • Alcohol – this is an alcohol-free event.

  • Smoking or vaping – we are a NO SMOKING facility, and we are currently experiencing a drought. Thank you!

  • Firearms or weapons of any kind.



Event Activities

  • 🌈 Up-close-and-personal Hot Air Balloon GLOW 

  • 🌌 Meet the balloon PILOTS and CREWS brought together by Air-olina Aviation

  • 🎟️ Raffle for a Hot Air Balloon Ride with Air-olina Avitation! 1 ticket for $5, 5 tickets for $20! Private ride will be scheduled at a later date—expires Oct 31, 2025. [Retail value: $800.] Be sure to visit Air-olina Aviation and their balloon Hot-N-Heavy in the glow line-up!

  • 🎃 TRICK-OR-TREATING to each hot air balloon

    • Look for teal ribbons to indicate allergy friendly treats and toys!

  • 🎶 LIVE MUSIC with Paul Bradley Atkinson Music

  • 🧙‍♀️ COSTUME contests

    • If you wish to join the costume contest for judging and prizes meet at Equuvation’s Horse Trailer at 6pm!

    • All contestants will receive a number. Judges will vote on their picks for the following categories:

      ▪️Most Original/Creative Costume

      ▪️Cutest Costume

      ▪️Best Family/Group Costume

    • The Balloon Pilots and Crews are also dressing up! Vote for your favorite at each balloon by dropping a “voting ticket” into the clear sleeve attached to each balloon! (This is a great excuse to go visit every balloon! 🙂)

    • Winners for both contests will be announced at 7pm!

  • 🎨 ART SALE featuring original masterpieces made by our therapy herd and clients and Lucky Shoes–all make wonderful gifts!

  • 🎨 Face painting and temporary tattoos

  • 📸 Farm-themed PHOTO “Booth”

  • 🍦 LOCAL FOOD TRUCKS (see list below!)

  • 💙 Sensory-friendly accommodations {no crowds - ear plugs available at Check-In Table}

  • 🌟 100% of donations collected at this event benefit Equuvation’s Scholarship Fund, which provides no-cost mental health and therapeutic services for kids! Rocky Creek Ranch is home to Equuvation :: Therapy + Education Center, a non-profit that provides services for individuals with disabilities; those who are experiencing anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, and Autism; and those whose lives have been impacted by trauma, abuse or chronic illness. Thank you for joining us in caring for this property to honor the mission of what we do here daily! With gratitude, The Team at Equuvation


Food Trucks

  • 🧁 Andrea's Sweet Truck

  • 🍧 Rad Chad's Italian Ice

  • 🧇 Waffle Chick

  • 🍕 67 Pizza

  • 🌯 Sandwich Express

  • 🌶️ Seasoned with Love (formerly La Patrona Del Sazon)

  • Don’t forget to bring CASH – some of our food trucks are CASH ONLY!

NEW this year! Get your own Balloon Pilot Autograph Poster!

For a small donation of your choice ($2-$10 recommended), you can collect your own Balloon Pilot Poster for all of the pilots and balloons who will be at our GLOW! Visit each balloon—trick-or-treat along the way!—and get the autographs from any pilots you wish!

We are so grateful to all of the pilots who share their time and talents (and balloons!) with us to create this very special event:

HOT N HEAVY {Drew + Taylor Egerton, Air-Olina Aviation} • MERCAPTAN, MY CAPTAIN {Daniel Sasser} • LUCKY STARS {Britan Stepanek, Lucky Day Balloons} • BIG OH! {Charles Page, Big Oh! Balloons} • BOURBON FLIGHT {Dan Gerbus, Bourbon Flight Balloons} • ALMOST HEAVEN TOO {Dave Litton, Almost Heaven Balloon Crew} • PHEONIX RISING {Jenna Litton} • OOCHIE 7 {Marc Klinger, Airtime Balloon Co.} • DREAM ON {Tony Colburn, Yadkin Valley Balloon Adventures} • WIZARD OF OZ {Marsha Lambertson} • XTREMELY CONTAGIOUS {Ken Draughn} • TARHEEL RACER {Sam Parks}

Directions:

Use the following address for your GPS – 196 Old Stagecoach Lane, Statesville NC 28625 – but please note, sometimes your GPS may want to take you to the wrong entrance! Use the directions below once you are on Snow Creek Road. There will be signage at our Main Gate (a large metal gate between stone columns) and it will be open!

From I-77 {South or North} -- Take I-77 to exit 59 [Tomlin Mill Road]; turn West on Tomlin Mill Road [L off 77N; R off 77S]. Follow ~ 0.75 mile to a stop sign, turn LEFT onto Jennings Rd. Follow Jennings for ~ 0.50 mile, take your 2nd RIGHT onto Snow Creek Rd. In ~ 0.50 mile, you will notice a fence on the RIGHT that has stacked stone columns with brown wooden fencing. Start to slow down! About 500ft after that fencing starts is a large stacked stone entrance with a metal gate, on the right. TAKE THIS ENTRANCE, which is about 0.75 mile before your GPS will tell you to turn. The facility name on the stone columns is Rocky Creek Ranch, and there are smaller signs indicating EQUUVATION and THE DISCOVERY TRAIL. There will also be a white sandwich board sign that says "EVENT ENTRANCE".

From the West / Rte 115 -- Take 115 N [from I-40] or 115 S [from 421] to Snow Creek Road. Follow for ~ 2.75 miles, you will notice a fence on the LEFT that has stacked stone columns with brown wooden fencing. At this point, your GPS may want you to turn LEFT onto Old Stagecoach Lane (this gate will be closed), but KEEP GOING! This is our service entrance and is ONLY for staff, vendors and full-size school busses. Continue to follow Snow Creek (and the brown fencing) for about another 0.75 mile to a large stacked stone entrance with a metal gate. Turn LEFT into the driveway. The facility name on the stone columns is Rocky Creek Ranch, and there are smaller signs indicating EQUUVATION and THE DISCOVERY TRAIL. There will also be a white sandwich board sign that says "EVENT ENTRANCE".

IMPORTANT: If you arrive at a CLOSED gate with mailboxes on your right, please go back down Snow Creek Road towards I-77 (East) and enter by way of our large metal Main Gate.

PLEASE NOTE: During regular business days/hours and on weekends, our facility is closed to the public. There are no public access hiking trails at this facility. Equuvation and The Discovery Trail are nonprofit programs that provide HIPAA compliant services for clients. It is important for us to provide our clients with a safe, healthy, peaceful environment to participate in the therapeutic programs they need. No drop-ins to this facility are allowed – if you wish to visit or learn more about our programs, please email info@equuvation.org to schedule an appointment.