The most spectacular hot air balloon festivals in the U.S.

With a stunning backdrop of the glorious Teton Mountain Range, the Teton Valley Balloon Rally in eastern Idaho is one of the best places to celebrate Independence Day. Spectators can camp at the balloon field in Driggs for the entire duration of the festival. There is no need to drive early in the morning, as you can walk from your campsite to your hot air balloon at dawn. Then return to the rally for a country-style pancake breakfast, watch an Oldtime Fiddlers’ contest, participate in the parades and end the day with the Fourth of July fireworks.

Upcoming dates: July 3-6, 2025

Ticket prices: $20 per vehicle (up to six people)  

Time Out tip: Consider camping on-site—RVs or tents are available—to catch the magic from mere steps away.

The 7th annual Great Smoky Mountains Hot Air Balloon Festival is scheduled to take place in August 2026, attracting locals and visitors alike. The event also serves as a fundraiser for local community initiatives, with proceeds benefiting the Townsend Volunteer Fire Department and Townsend Elementary School. Expect plenty of family-friendly fun, live entertainment and food vendors. Colorful balloons will rise up to 30 feet into the sky, creating a vibrant visual backdrop against the backdrop of the Smoky Mountains.

Upcoming dates: August 16, 2025

Ticket prices: $10 per person 

Time Out tip: The festival grounds are rugged and walking is required, so wear comfortable shoes.

Just five miles from Palm Springs, Cathedral City offers a vibrant escape with its annual Hot Air Balloon Festival, held each November. This three-day, family-owned and operated event includes everything from sunrise balloon rides to romantic dinners. Visitors can expect gourmet food trucks, an outdoor artisan market, a dedicated kids’ zone, evening balloon glows and plenty of Instagrammable moments beneath the desert sky.

Upcoming dates: November 21–23, 2025

Ticket prices: $30

Time Out tip: Take advantage of savings: Kids 12 and under, Cathedral City residents and military families are eligible for free or discounted tickets.

This is the largest and longest-running balloon festival in the country, drawing over 900,000 visitors and 600 pilots from seven countries over nine days. It is a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle to watch over 500 hot-air and gas-filled balloons shaped as animals, characters, and cultural symbols ascend over the Sandia Mountains and New Mexico deserts.

The ideal October climate and wind pattern, known as the Albuquerque Box, provide perfect weather conditions for launching and landing balloons, often from the same location. In October 2025, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will celebrate its 53rd anniversary.

Upcoming dates: October 4–12, 2025

Ticket prices: $15 per person 

Time Out tip: Dress accordingly! Bring layers, since temperatures can change drastically throughout the day (chilly mornings and evenings, warm afternoons) 

Celebrate Labor Day weekend in Colorado, where you can see approximately 70 balloons against the panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains. Visitors from all around the state come to enjoy the festivities at the Labor Day Lift Off, which includes live entertainment, demonstrations by the USAFA Wings of Blue skydive jumpers, aerial acrobats, model balloon displays and chainsaw carving and donut-eating competitions. Because Colorado Springs is a popular outdoor adventure destination, the festival also offers guests the chance to get together for stand-up paddleboarding, hiking, biking and other activities.

Upcoming dates: August 30-September 1, 2025

Ticket prices: Free

Time Out tip: Arrive early for the full experience: Gates open at 5:15am.

The Great Reno Balloon Race, the world’s largest free hot air ballooning event, takes place for four days in early September over the skies of Reno, in northern Nevada, drawing over 140,000 people each year. Like other balloon festivals around the country, you can watch illuminated balloons on cool early mornings during the Dawn Patrol and sign up for a hot air balloon ride. But quirky competitions such as the airborne gaming Balloon Blackjack, E.L. Cord tissue paper hot air balloon launch and the world’s largest pajama party fest (where you are encouraged to show off your best "bed head") make Reno a fun and unique experience.

Upcoming dates: September 5-7, 2025

Ticket prices: Free

Time Out tip: Free parking is available at UNR lots (Green/Blue 1); however, you must be out by 10am.

Get a bird’s-eye view of the red cliffs and valleys over Gallup. Each December, Gallup hosts the Red Rock Balloon Rally, where over 200 colorful balloons can be seen at sunrise, hovering above the beautiful red sandstone canyons and towering rock spires. Besides ballooning, the rally is a cultural event where you can taste authentic New Mexican food, watch Native American dances and shop for handcrafted Native arts and jewelry. Head to downtown Gallup for a Christmas parade and more celebrations. The best part? Admission is free.

Upcoming dates: December 5-7, 2025

Ticket prices: Free

Time Out tip: Parking fills up quickly, so arrive early and consider carpooling.

The Lottery Festival of Ballooning is the largest summertime hot air ballooning and music festival in North America. It is an amazing spectacle where you can see Grammy Award-winning artists against a backdrop of balloons in every color of the rainbow. At the 744-acre site of Solberg Airport, families can witness ascensions of colorful 100 sport and special-shaped hot air balloons twice daily, including iconic New Jersey Lottery Sunny Days, a unicorn, a giant sloth and a 110-foot-tall Unique Photo panda bear. But the biggest draw to this festival is the live concert lineup, where legendary bands like Barenaked Ladies, the Jonas Brothers and KC and the Sunshine Band have played in previous years. 

Upcoming dates: September 5-7, 2025

Ticket prices: Free

Time Out tip: Free parking is available at UNR lots (Green/Blue 1); however, you must be out by 10am.

Taking place every year on the third weekend in October, the Carolina Balloon Fest is the second-oldest hot air balloon festival in the country. The event features competitions, mass ascensions, evening balloon glows and rides. In addition to all the hot air balloon fun, festivities feature live entertainment on two stages, a kids’ zone, a marketplace, an artisan village, and a local wine and craft beer garden. Aerialist circus performances and skydiving exhibitions are also sure to impress. 

Upcoming dates: October 17-19, 2025

Ticket prices: $15 per person 

Time Out tip: Parking fills up quickly, so arrive early and consider carpooling.

Held at the grassy fields of Goodyear Ballpark, located in the suburb of Phoenix, the Arizona Balloon Classic takes place every January. Festivities include a morning "Hare and Hound" competition, laser light shows, fireworks, and an all-day family fun zone. The recently added Desert Winds kite festival displays premier kite designs, show kites, candy canons, paper rocket making and launching, and parachute ground racing. The balloon festival always has a community tie, donating a portion of ticket and beverage proceeds to a local non-profit.

Upcoming dates: January 16-18, 2026

Ticket prices: $22 per person 

Time Out tip: Buy tickets in advance to save—prices increase when you purchase at the gate.