Fall Hot Air Balloon Festivals

Taos Mountain Balloon Rally - Taos, NM - Oct 25 to Oct 27, 2024
A weekend of hot air balloons amid the fall colors in New Mexico. Typically hosts 35-50 balloons and crews.

Poteau Balloon Fest - Poteau, OK - Oct 18 to Oct 19, 2024
Held on the LeFlore County Fair Grounds. Carnival rides, tethered balloon rides, helicopter rides and monster truck rides. Pageant, pet contest, mud race and mud tug of war. Free parking.

Great Mississippi River Balloon Race - Natchez, MS - Oct 18 to Oct 19, 2024
Held at Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens, it features a carnival section with rides, games, and fun for all ages. Enjoy plenty of food. Local sports bars host college football on Saturday and the Saints football on Sunday. Also the exciting Balloon Race plus live music all weekend.

Carolina Balloon Fest - Statesville, NC - Oct 18 to Oct 20, 2024
Watch 50 hot air balloons rise to the skies! Enjoy tethered balloon rides for – proceeds from the event benefit local nonprofits. Live music entertainment on 2 stages, plus a kids’ zone, artisan marketplace, 5k run, wine and beer tasting and more.

Animas Valley Balloon Rally - Durango, CO - Oct 18 to Oct 20, 2024
Take in ColoradoÂ’’s stunning fall colors from above at the Animas Valley Balloon Rally. This family-friendly event features morning mass ascensions and nighttime balloon glows.

Columbus Day Festival Hot Air Balloon Regatta - Columbus, KS - Oct 11 to Oct 13, 2024
Lots of events on the schedule here in addition to the colorful hot air balloons. BBQ cookoff, scarecrow contest, pancake breakfast, 5K, petting zoo, parade, car & motorcycle show, tractor pull, children’s corner, petting zoo, inflatables and more. Visit downtown Columbus to join in all the fun!

Touchstone Energy Balloon Fest - Lake Shelbyville, IL - Oct 11 to Oct 13, 2024
Balloon launches, music, crafts, community breakfast fundraiser, helicopter rides, balloon glow, cookouts and festival foods, kids area, and more. Launches are weather dependent for safety.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta - Albuquerque, NM - Oct 5 to Oct 13, 2024
Hot air balloon launches, live music, flying competition, car show and more. Since 1972.

Marion County Ham Days - Lebanon, KY - Sep 27 to Sep 29, 2024
Serves over 4,000 pounds of country ham along with a carnival, parade, live entertainment and classic car show. This event started in 1969 with only six hams and a few volunteers, and today, hundreds of volunteers serve up over 4,000 pounds of country ham at the Country Ham Breakfast

Kiwanis Club Hot Air Balloon Festival - Bloomington, IN - Sep 27 to Sep 28, 2024
Hot air balloon

Colorfest Balloon Festival - Pagosa Springs, CO - Sep 20 to Sep 22, 2024
Durango has a lot of fun planned during the weekend of this balloon festival, including a Wine & Food Festival on Friday (21+), and Bands & Brews Festival on Saturday! Mass balloon ascensions will take place both Saturday and Sunday morning, meaning the fun and festivities roll on all weekend! 5k Color Run on Sunday morning. Brews and Balloon festivals feature events for all ages, check out the Pagosa Chamber page for more info and ticketing availability!

Great Forest Park Balloon Race - St Louis, MO - Sep 20 to Sep 21, 2024
The oldest and most well-attended FREE Hot-Air Balloon Event in the World. Since 1973.

Adirondack Balloon Fest - Queensbury, NY - Sep 19 to Sep 22, 2024
Craft fair, balloons and rides, and more

Plano Balloon Festival - Plano, TX - Sep 19 to Sep 22, 2024
Event takes place at Oak Point Park. 45 hot air balloons, sky divers, live music, fireworks, and kids fun zone. Tethered balloon rides available for $15-20 per person. 1/2 Marathon, 5K and 1K runs. General admission is $5. Parking is $5-10.

Arkansas Hot Air Balloon State Championship - Harrison, AR - Sep 13 to Sep 14, 2024
A balloon race competition with tethered rides, kids fest and more family friendly fun. Check the schedule for all venues but most of the action takes place at Boone County Regional Airport.

Snowmass Balloon Festival - Snowmass Village, CO - Sep 13 to Sep 15, 2024
One of the highest altitude balloon events in the country, with more than 30 pilots competing in challenges.

Great Reno Balloon Race - Reno, NV - Sep 6 to Sep 8, 2024
One of the largest free hot-air ballooning event in the world, with almost 100 balloons and 120,000 spectators each year.

Windsor Harvest Festival - Windsor, CO - Aug 31 to Sep 2, 2024
3-day event with live entertainment, arts & crafts, amusement rides, concerts, hot air balloon, fireworks and more.

Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival - Pine Mountain, GA - Aug 31 to Sep 1, 2024
Balloon launches, including morning and evening flights, are accompanied by live entertainment, family activities, exhibits, demonstrations, music and more – including fun activities like swimming, mini golf, table tennis, arts & crafts, a rock climbing wall, kites, a car show, tie-dye T-shirt making, and more!

Spirit of Boise - Boise, ID - Aug 28 to Sep 1, 2024
Family friendly event to watch the hot air balloons launch. Held at Ann Morrison Park. Free admission. Founded in 1991.

Fall River Hot Air Balloon Festival - Hot Springs, SD - Aug 23 to Aug 25, 2024
Annual hot air balloon with sunrise and skydiving options

Quad Cities Balloon Fest - Moline, IL - Aug 9 to Aug 10, 2024
Hot air balloon festival at Rock Island County Fairgrounds. In lieu of admission they ask for a donation of non-perishable food items to support the River Bend Foodbank.

Champaign County Balloon Fest - Urbana, OH - Sep 8 to Sep 9, 2023
Included will be children’s games and activities, music, food trucks, and assorted vendors. The Champaign Aviation Museum will be open, and the Grimes Flying Lab and a B-25 will be on Display. In addition to food trucks, the Airport Cafe will be open serving a full menu and the famous “Airport Pie”! The balloons will launch at 6:00 pm followed by a pizza/wings eating contest, then a Balloon Glow.

Danville Festival of Balloons - Dansville, NY - Sep 1 to Sep 3, 2023
Over 35,000 attend this festival starting with the free balloon GLOW on Thursday night. Festival has six scheduled balloon launches, international food court, free entertainment, rides and amusements, car show, and craft vendors.

Harvest Balloon Festival - Flowery Branch, GA - Oct 5 to Oct 5, 2019
Festival includes carnival rides, kids games, pumpkin painting, music, food, and more, plus of course hot air balloons! Proceeds go towards local organizations, such as the Hall County Animal Shelter and Family Promise of Hall County.