12 Best Places to See Stunning Hot Air Balloon Festivals in the U.S.
There’s nothing more magical than seeing hundreds of hot air balloons gracefully floating through the air. Hot air balloon festivals are the perfect place to learn more about these whimsical vehicles, meet their pilots, and take a ride.
The International Balloon Festival draws more than 900,000 visitors, 600 pilots, and 500 balloons to Albuquerque, NM, for this nine-day celebration of hot air ballooning.
Celebrate the Fourth of July with hundreds of hot air balloons at the Teton Valley Balloon Rally in Idaho. You can camp next to the festival with the majestic Teton Mountains as a backdrop for the duration of the festival.
This nine-day festival is the longest running balloon festival in the Midwest. While you can enjoy traditional balloon festival events such as dawn launches and pilot races, the National Balloon Classic also has night glow events where you can see the balloons illuminated against the night sky.
New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning – Readington, NJ
Want to see iconic bands play alongside some of the most unique hot air balloons around? Head to New Jersey’s largest summertime hot air ballooning and music festival in North America.
Hudson Valley Hot Air Balloon Festival – Union Vale, NY
This Labor Day festival in upstate New York is all about air-based activities. With the unpredictable New York weather, festival organizers make sure there are plenty of activities that aren’t weather dependent.