Thousands of people flock each year to experience the spectacular hot air balloon festivals held all over the United States. Watching a hot air balloon rise into the sky is such a spectacular sight. It’s become more magical when a lot of them take off and gradually rise in the sky simultaneously.
People belong to all ages can participate in this amazing festival. Hot air balloons symbolize happiness, joy, romance, luxury, and so on. If you are interested to take part in this magical hot air balloon festival you can also witness a mass ascension at dawn.
Many of these events feature a variety of exciting events such as skydiving shows, fireworks, music performances, food, and so on.
If you are looking for the best hot air balloon festival held in the USA, keep reading this article to discover the best one in your state or near you.
Best hot air balloon festivals to experience
1. Albuquerque balloon festival
This international balloon fiesta is a massive event that takes place in New Mexico in October. Each year around 500 to 700 hot air balloons are released into the air from the ground. These balloons are of different sort of colors, shapes, and themes.
This festival offers car shows, morning and evening glow, live music, carnival games, and kid’s ride. More than 900000 visitors come together to attend this hot air balloon event each year.
Albuquerque international balloon fiesta is the biggest hot air balloon festival in the USA. The most thrilling events of this festival are Sandia Mountain and the New Mexico desert.
Albuquerque balloon event starts at 6 am and you can also experience the amazing view of sunrise filled up with hundreds of balloons.
Besides, you can also watch the balloons take to the air at sunset. You can click a lot of snaps of the views. You will see a lot of vendors selling clothes, toys, gift items, and food.
2. Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift-Off
Colorado Springs Labor Day lift-off is a hot air balloon festival that takes place in the Memorial park in Colorado Springs. If you are free in September then be sure to go to the event. From the heart of the Rocky Mountains, around 70 balloons take to the sky between 7 and 9 am in majestic fashion.
This balloon event has taken place in Colorado Springs for the past 40 years. It draws thousands of visitors each year to the ground. Compared to other balloon festivals in the USA, this festival is relatively small.
But, it is full of entertainment and beautiful scenery as well. While you will see the balloons rising into the sky from the mountain and surrounding area, is quite a spectacle to behold.
So, you can click a lot of pictures of the amazing views and keep those as unforgettable memories. There are a lot of additional fun events such as a hot air balloon race, sky diving contest, donut eating contest, and so on.
You can also enjoy some outdoor activities such as stand-up paddle boarding, and wakeboarding at the nearby Prospect Lake.
At the time of sunset, you can also enjoy the views as the balloons take to the sky again. Also, you can join the ride.
3. Teton Valley Balloon rally
There is no better place to celebrate and enjoy Independence Day than the Teton valley balloon rally. This hot air balloon festival takes place over three days and comes with a lot of entertainment.
This balloon festival has been taking place for the past 40 years. Each day begins with an early morning rise. Around 15 to 20 balloons take into the sky each day. These balloons are of different textures, themes, colors, and shapes.
You can watch the pilot and the crew preparing for taking off, then experience their ascent into the sky.
The most amazing part of this balloon festival is that you can camp on the grounds where the festival will be held. You can also grab some pancakes, and delicious food, and prepare to be blown away.
If you are fond of some thrilling activities, you can book a ticket for enjoying a hot air balloon ride. All over the day, you can experience various events such as a fiddlers contest, parades, etc.
You can catch the exciting 4th of July fireworks to celebrate the Independence.
4. Adirondack Balloon festival
Adirondack balloon festival takes place in the streets of Glens Falls, Queensbury, New York from 22nd to 25th Sep 2022. This hot air balloon event comes with the launch of 20 balloons, food vendors, live music, kid’s activities, etc.
The Big Balloon breakfast will be served at Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport on Saturday and Sunday. There is a variety of entertaining events such as art shows, kite flying, and military aircraft display to look forward to.
5. New Jersey Lottery Festival of ballooning in Readington
The New Jersey lottery festival is one of the biggest hot air balloon festivals held in North America. During the last weekend of July, around 100 balloons took flight from the ground. Their balloons are of different shapes, themes, and colors, This festival takes place at Solberg Airport, Readington, New Jersey.
You can experience ascensions of balloons twice a day, one at the dawn and another one during sunset.
This festival comes with some family-friendly entertainment, fore works, concerts, and a unique way to watch the mass ascension. The most interesting part of this festival is nearly 1000 participants can join in the running with balloons 5K. This kind of race starts with a pistol shot or air horn, also with a human cannonball stunt.
The biggest attraction of this festival is the live concert lineup where some legendary bands take part.
What makes the festival unique is that if you can make a VIP booking then you will have an amazing experience. As you can get the front seats to watch the balloon takes off, access the private parties, front row concert seats, and a sunrise brunch.
6. Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival
If you visit this Temecula valley balloon and wine festival then you are going to experience the most romantic festivals in the valley. This festival takes place at Lake Skinner in California from the 3rd to the 5th of June.
it is the coolest hot air balloon festival in California and you do not attend it. During the three days of this balloon festival event, you can enjoy a variety of balloons rising in the sky from the ground. In the morning, you can also take part in balloon riding.
Then, all through the day, you can experience some delicious food enjoy wine tasting, and sample wines, and craft beers from 20 wineries. Besides, you can also enjoy some of the wine barrel races or live concerts.
In the evening, you can enjoy the hot air balloons glow show and take to the sky just before sunset.
7. The Great Reno Balloon Race
The great Reno balloon festival is one of the biggest hot air balloon festivals in the world. The great Reno balloon race takes place in Reno, Nevada in September each year.
Around 140000 people join this event each year from all around the globe. The most amazing fact about this festival is you don’t need to pay anything for getting entrance into the festival.
During these three days of festivals, you can experience more than 100 balloons rising into the sky from the ground. Each day, just before the sunshine, a few balloons rise into the dark sky.
You can book this early morning ride or can stand back and watch the marvelous view. You can enjoy a lot of activities all through the day held on the festive ground.
Some of the highlights of this Reno balloon race are Balloon Blackjack, a Pajama party, and the launching of the tissue paper hot air balloon.
Kids can also take part in the toilet paper launching; it is a place to show their creativity. It is featuring with several balloons creations in all sizes, colors, and shapes, completely made with toilet paper.
You can also see a lot of food vendors and stalls selling gifts and souvenirs.
8. Great Forest Park Balloon Race
The great forest park balloon race is another biggest hot air balloon festivals in the USA. It takes place in St. Louis, Missouri in September. Over the last 50 years, it is attracting more than 100000 people for a weekend of fun.
You don’t need to pay anything for entering the event. You only need to pay for the food and drinks.
At this event, thousands gather to enjoy live entertainment, and delicious food and the balloon growing starts before the sunset.
You can also experience a lot of fun throughout the day by participating in hot air balloon races, skydiving performances, and so on.
On the final day of the festival, you need to rise early for watching the balloons once again take off. Then a wonderful firework show will also be displayed to farewell the guests of the event.
9. Havasu Balloon Festival and fair
The Havasu balloon festival and fair are one of the best events held in lake Havasu City, Arizona. This event is quite exciting as you can experience the stunning scenery of lake Havasu and the peaks of the Mohave Mountains.
This event takes place over a weekend in late January. Each day the early morning ascensions start at 6 am. Then, the funfair begins. You can enjoy various events such as carnival rides, live music, and a variety of delicious food associated with the fair.
There are a lot of vendors on the festive ground selling crafts and arts. Before sunset, you can enjoy basking in the glow of 100s hot air balloons.
10. Ruby Mountain Balloon Festival
Ruby Mountain balloon festival is another charming hot air balloon festival held at Ruby Mountains, Nevada in July.
You can also enjoy the scenic beauty of Ruby Mountain and can click on more photos. You will have more fun watching the Balloon glow event in Mountain View Park.
The most unique part of this festival is teenagers can take part in the balloon camp to learn more about the sportsman spirits. They also can gather knowledge about the science needed to make hot air balloons and steering of them.
This event includes various events such as a live concert, live music, delicious food, and so on.
FAQ
why is the hot air balloon festival in the Philippines celebrated?
Ans: The Philippines hot air balloon fiesta is a yearly four-day event. The event was initiated by the department of tourism in 1994 to bring around the fledging spirit of Kapampangans.
Was the Albuquerque balloon festival 2022 canceled?
Ans: Thousands of people made their way to visit the Albuquerque balloon festival this year but it is declared canceled due to bad weather conditions. It was its hot air balloon festival’s 50th anniversary.
Wrap Up
In each of the balloon festivals, there is a balloon glow event where the balloon is lit up from the ground resembling magical floating fireflies. It’s the main event in the hot air balloon festival.
Besides the balloon glow event, there are hot air balloon rides, live concerts, music, food, and much more to have fun. So, behold the best balloon festive in the USA. These festivals are fun for the entire family and also worth checking out.
You can pick any one destination for you as no two are alike. Each one comes with its unique features, fun, food, scenic beauty, etc.
