North America is blessed with some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes on the planet. However, there is a growing trend of thrill-seekers soaring skywards to capture these magnificent scenic vistas with a unique aerial perspective. You may be surprised to hear, but the popularity of hot air balloon tourism is growing, and as a result, countless hot air balloon festivals have sprung up throughout America and Canada. Nevertheless, given the wide array of events you can visit, it begs the question: Which is the best hot air balloon festival for you to see?
To help answer this, we’ve shortlisted the best hot air balloon festival experiences suitable for all ages. Whether you’re after the rush of a take-off and hot air balloon landing, or you’d like to keep your feet firmly on the ground, hot air balloon events have plenty of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Cast your eyes towards the sky and join us as we head to see our top hot air balloon festivals in North America for some sky-high adventures.
Where better to start our tour of the ultimate hot air balloon experiences than the stunning Rocky Mountains and the captivating Pikes Peak region of Colorado? Our first North American hot air balloon festival sees us heading to the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift-Off, held every September since 1977. This remarkable three-day festival was formerly known as the Colorado Balloon Classic and attracts hot-air ballooning enthusiasts and spectators from all around the world.
The Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off hot air balloon festival is fun for the whole family and features the daring Wings of Blue USAF Skydiving display team & regular mesmerizing night-time drone shows. Not to be upstaged, the hot air balloon pilots will be demonstrating their airmanship each morning when the sun comes up as they gracefully float towards the horizon.
These adrenaline-charged balloon rides and flybys draw in the crowds, and then, when the evening approaches, the exhilarating spectacle of a balloon glow radiates a colorful warmth, illuminating the Colorado Springs night sky. However, outside of the Labor Day Lift Off, visitors to Colorado Springs can also enjoy year-round hot air balloon rides with Adventures Out West for captivating early morning Pikes Peak vistas.
Don’t miss possibly the most scenic hot air ballooning destination by enjoying your stay at the Best Western Plus Executive Residency Fillmore Inn in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Our next unique hot air balloon festival is the Great Reno Balloon Race, considered the world’s largest free hot air ballooning event. Initially, this extraordinary hot air ballooning attraction started life in 1982 as a race featuring 20 balloons soaring across the Reno skyline. Nowadays, the Great Reno Balloon Race attracts over 100 hot air balloons every year.
Held every September at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, just north of downtown Reno, the Great Reno Balloon Race is a four-day event that attracts over 150,000 spectators annually. Bookmarked with early morning hot air balloon launches and an evening Glow Show, this family-friendly hot air balloon festival has activities throughout the day to entertain people of all ages.
For those visiting Reno outside of the September event, you can join the crew at Balloon Nevada for an exhilarating early morning ride to marvel at the splendid Carson Valley from the air. Feel the warm Nevada sun on your face and the cool mountain air flowing in your hair with regular morning hot air balloon rides year-round, or watch the sun go down on a sunset flight during the fall and winter months, too.
Take advantage of your time in Reno, Nevada, with a relaxing night’s sleep every night when you stay at the Aiden by Best Western @ South Reno.
Our first hot air ballooning event north of the border finds us in the glorious city of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC, in Canada. Situated just outside Montreal, the International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu also happens to be Canada’s largest hot-air ballooning event.
Traditionally held in mid-August, the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu hot air balloon festival sees upwards of 125 hot air balloons taking to the skies and makes for a family-friendly celebration for kids and grown-ups alike. Here, you can start each day of this 7-day festival watching the morning lift-off, followed by daytime entertainment, through to an evening of fireworks and balloon glows.
Celebrating a rich history of more than four decades, the International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu also embraces a love of music, with three stages of live entertainment playing throughout the weeklong celebration. However, visitors to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu wanting to jump into a hot air balloon basket outside of this great annual festival can enjoy a fabulous air balloon ride with the team at La Magie de l’air all year round.
Maximize your hot air balloon adventure with a great night’s sleep each night at the Best Western Hotel Brossard in Brossard, Quebec.
Our second Canadian hot air balloon festival sees us remain in Quebec for the amazing Gatineau Balloon Festival, where you can watch the pilots head skywards before descending for a textbook hot air balloon landing on their return.
The Gatineau Balloon Festival is probably one of the most entertaining hot air balloon festivals in North America, as it benefits from an on-site carnival amusement park – ideal for the whole family. Located just a 15-minute drive from downtown Ottowa, this 5-day event has been attracting hot air balloon enthusiasts for over 36 years.
Guests are treated to daily morning balloon flights throughout this hot air ballooning gala, concluding most evenings with a spectacular night glow and a fireworks display. Don’t worry if you can’t make this incredible hot air balloon festival, as you can still enjoy hot air balloon rides of the region with the crew at Big Balloon Adventures for some sky-bound voyages.
Enjoy the impressive sights of the Gatineau Balloon Festival and a city break in the nation’s capital when you book your stay at the Best Western Plus Ottawa City Centre in Ontario, Canada.
Possibly one of the most famous hot air balloon festivals in the world is the Albuquerque hot air balloon festival, also known as the International Balloon Fiesta. This New Mexico hot air balloon festival welcomes visitors from across the globe to witness an array of events, including astonishing balloon rodeos and twilight balloon glows.
From its modest beginnings in 1972 with a mere 13 balloons, this staggering hot-air balloon festival has expanded dramatically and now features more than 270 balloon entries each year. Held in October to take advantage of the favorable weather conditions, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta also provides visitors with professional skydiver displays, regular drone shows, and an exciting fireworks display.
Nevertheless, if you find yourself in Reno outside of this 9-day North American hot air balloon festival, you can still enjoy a bird’s eye view of the dazzling skyline with sunrise trips between November and February. Alternatively, you can relish year-round early morning hot air balloon rides with the team at Rainbow Ryders.
Complete your skyward adventure when visiting Albuquerque, New Mexico, by staying at the superb Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn.
We’re heading west for our next hot air ballooning event in Cathedral City, California, home to the spectacular Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival and food truck fiesta.
First started in 1981, the Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival has now grown into an outstanding three-day event featuring incredible live music bands, an outdoor market, and an impressive array of gourmet food trucks. Held in November each year, watch these majestic hot air balloons rise skyward every morning before witnessing the illuminating night-time balloon glows light up the California skyline every evening.
However, if you’d like to be more than just a spectator, you can join the team at Fantasy Balloon Flights all year round for a fantastic hot air balloon ride over the Temecula wine country or the Ventura coast. With shuttles from your hotel in Cathedral City to the hot air balloon launch site, it’s a magical bucket list experience.
Whether you’ve enjoyed your time in the air or taken in the beautiful vistas from the ground, enjoy your stay in Cathedral City, CA, when you stay at the Best Western Plus Desert View Inn & Suites.
Heading north of the border again, we venture to one of the most remarkable North American hot air balloon festivals in the mountains. Held each year in February, the Vernon Winter Carnival Hot Air Balloon Fiesta and Glow offers riders an unbelievable hot air balloon experience rising high in the crisp mountain air of Vernon, British Columbia, in Canada.
This tremendous hot air balloon festival in Vernon features regular morning take-offs and visually stunning evening glows. While you’re at the Vernon Winter Carnival Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, you can enjoy the fun attractions of the fair itself, including its gigantic ice slide and snow sculpture competition, all while enjoying some fine BBQ cooking to keep you toasty.
For thrill-seekers looking to enjoy a hot air balloon ride outside this hot air balloon fiesta, you can seek an airborne adventure with mountain vistas by joining the aircrew at Okanagan Ballooning in nearby Kelowna any time of year.
Enjoy your stay in the mountains and the Vernon Winter Carnival Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, and get a cozy night’s sleep at the Best Western Premier Route 97 Vernon, in British Columbia, Canada.
Our final destination for all air balloon ride enthusiasts is the spectacular Historic Park City, Utah. The Park City Autumn Aloft hot air balloon festival takes advantage of the city’s calmer surface winds and stable atmosphere for some of the most impressive sunrise flights on the planet.
Annually, visitors to Park City can take advantage of these spectacular morning views of the surrounding Utah mountains and impressive city skyline. Here, you can jump in a hot air balloon basket with the team at Bigfoot Balloons for a view from 1,500 feet up in the air.
Of course, hot air balloon rides aren’t the only reason you should visit Historic Park City. As the outdoor capital of the USA, you can explore the lush surroundings of this stunning destination and follow the tracks of your hot air balloon ride on the hiking trails. Alternatively, you may also want to attend the internationally celebrated Sundance Film Festival held in Park City every January.
Enjoy the sights and sounds of Park City, Utah, when you book your stay at the Best Western Plus Landmark Inn.