Hot Air Balloon Festival: Where to Find Them Around the World

I have had the opportunity to attend the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which is the largest festival in the world for hot air balloons with close to a million people attending (maybe it will be a million this year!). We couldn't have been more excited as it was something that Mr. Misadventures had wanted to photograph for a long time, plus, it was right in our own backyard!

Of course, Albuquerque is not the only hot air balloon festival. You can find them in every corner of the world! I thought it would be fun to hear about other balloon festivals around the world and I found plenty of travel bloggers who have attended hot air balloon festivals around the world and we're happy to share their experiences.

Up, up, and away!

Hot Air Balloon Rally in Pittsfield, New Hampshire

Contributed by Yulia Dyukova of The Foodie Miles
When you think of hot air balloon festivals in the USA, the first thing that comes to mind is, probably, Albuquerque, NM. But there are many smaller balloon festivals all around the country. I was lucky to visit Hot Air Balloon Rally in Pittsfield, New Hampshire, organized by Suncook Valley Rotary Club.

The rally has been conducted for the past 36 years as a means to raise funds for service projects in the surrounding areas.

During three days at the beginning of August, you can see the launch of hot air balloons twice a day: at 5.30 AM and 5.30 PM. Talking from personal experience, the morning launch is especially magical.

Watching balloons raise in the sky along with the sun is a one-of-a-kind experience. After the morning launch, you can have a hot breakfast of pancakes or scrambled eggs cooked right in front of you in the field.

Unfortunately, rides in hot air balloons are not available during this rally, but you can enjoy a tethered ride, which means that the air balloon is securely anchored to the ground, but can ascend a certain height.

The rally also features many carnival rides, amusement attractions, helicopter rides, and delicious food from local businesses.

Canberra Balloon Spectacular

Contributed by Paula McInerney of Contented Traveller
The Canberra Balloon Spectacular is one of the most popular hot-air ballooning events in the world. Canberra is the capital city of Australia and is quite different from both Sydney and Melbourne. It is located between these two top-rated cities and was purpose-built on a sheep farm. Canberra as the home of the government of Australia is quite innovative with its arts, food, and culture scene.

Not only do they host the most successful flower festival in Australia, Floriade, but they have the Canberra Balloon Spectacular. For some reason, this inland city is ideal for hot air balloons. The festival has become so popular that it now runs over nine days in March each year.

To add some irony to the event, considering that Canberra is the political capital of Australia, the balloons launch from the lawns of Old Parliament House. Simultaneously at 6.15 am each day during the festival the hot air balloon and over Lake Burley Griffin. The Canberra Balloon Spectacular Festival has become so popular that often there are some quite controversial balloons, like Skywhale which was created for Canberra’s 2013 centenary.

Regardless, the skies over Canberra are awash with stunning and often controversial hot air balloons during this Canberra Balloon Spectacular Festival, and it is one of the most amazing, and yes spectacular sites.

Balloons Over Waikato

Contributed by Kaylie Lewell of Happiness Travels Here
The stunning scenery and friendly locals make New Zealand the perfect location for my favourite balloon festival. The city of Hamilton is the stage for Balloons Over Waikato, New Zealand’s foremost hot-air balloon festival. Held each March, visitors gather from around the country and the world to attend the 5-day event.

Each morning the day is greeted with the launch of dozens of hot air balloons over the city. Balloons start their journey on the banks of Hamilton Lake. The soft glow of the sunrise reflecting the colours and shapes of the balloons onto the still lake is enchanting. Whimsical cartoon characters float alongside traditional teardrop balloons with their wicker baskets. Bold colours pop against the clear blue of the New Zealand autumn sky.

The pinnacle of the event is the Zuru Nightglow. This family-friendly, free event kicks off with a concert featuring local and international artists. When the sky has darkened the Balloons are launched to choreographed music and a light show. The warm flames of the balloons glow across the Hamilton skyline as the concert continues into the night.

March is a great time to visit New Zealand, summer weather still lingers but the holiday crowds have dispersed. Hamilton is only an hour's drive or train from Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city and airport.

Les Montgolfiades de Rocamadour

Contributed by Gillian of Scotland Bucket List
Are you planning a visit to France? Interested in exploring the lesser-known area of the Lot in South West France? Well, here’s just another reason for you to put this region on your itinerary! Every year, during the last weekend of September, Rocamadour plays host to the annual Les Montgolfiades Hot Air Balloon Festival.

This beautiful village provides the most unique and stunning backdrop of the Festival. Its chateau perches high above the deep gorge while the rest of the village hugs the cliffside.

Crowds of people flock to this iconic village to marvel at the thirty balloons that soar slowly to the skies one by one on Saturday and Sunday. Young and old line the clifftop, trying to find the best vantage point to view the kaleidoscope of brightly coloured balloons climbing up the valley in their various shapes and sizes.

The flights take place twice daily at 8 am and 5 pm and if you’re lucky enough, you can even book a trip in one of the hot air balloons (make sure you apply early).

In true French style, there is also a large brocante on the Sunday. Rocamadour is not only a UNESCO World Heritage site but also an important pilgrimage destination and worth a visit at any time of year, but it’s especially worth the detour for Les Montgolfiades.

Alentejo Balloon Festival

Contributed by James Cave of Portugalist
The Festival Internacional de Balões de Ar-Quente (International Festival of Hot Air Balloons) takes place every November in Portugal’s Alentejo region. This European balloon festival is organized by Publibalão and Alentejo without borders-balloon Club and attracts teams from all over the world, including Spain, France, Belgium, the UK, Holland, and Germany.

Over the past few years between 35 and 50 different teams have taken part – the financial crisis did reduce the numbers for a few years, but it looks like they are steadily increasing again.

The Alentejo is a region of Portugal that many visitors overlook in favor of other regions and cities like the Algarve, Lisbon, and Porto, but it’s a region that has a lot to offer including beautiful scenery, great wine, and great regional dishes. November is also a fantastic time to visit as the weather is much cooler than the summer months when it frequently tops 40 °C.

If you’ve ever wanted to take a hot air balloon ride, this is when you should do it: free hot air balloon rides are available during the festival, usually in the morning. It’ll give you a chance to see the Alentejo from two perspectives: the ground and the air.

Globo de Betanzos

Contributed by Inma Gregorio of A World to Travel

Betanzos is a mid-size Galician municipality in the province of A Coruña, Spain. During the San Roque festivities, a large paper balloon built by the community and filled with diverse messages is launched at the main square every August, 16th at midnight along with expressive applause and the ringing of the town bells until the balloon gets lost in the night sky.

The tradition has been going on for over two centuries since the first elevation of an aerostatic balloon in honor of King Fernando VII took place on May, 29th 1814. These days over fifty thousand people gather in Betanzos main square every year to celebrate this commemoration and release a new balloon. It is said that it is one of the largest in the world and this festival makes for the perfect time to pay a visit to this historic villa.

Other than that, Betanzos is a quiet spot in the North West part of Spain and has a very well-preserved old town that comes from the middle ages. The church of our lady of the Camino (Santiago's Way), the old bridge, the Garcia Naviera brothers' square, Santo Domingo's convent, the square of Fernan Perez of Andrade, the local park and the church of Santiago are well worth the visit!

For other Galicia must-see places, check out this post.

International Hot-Air Balloon Festival in Château-d'Oex

Contributed by Rashmi & Chalukya of GO Beyond Bounds
During our stay in Switzerland, we had the opportunity to visit the grand balloon festival held in the village of Chateau d’Oex near Montreux. This balloon festival is one of the popular festivals of Switzerland and has won Chateau d’Oex the title of the ‘Hot Air Balloon Capital’.

The annual Balloon Festival held in the month of January draws pilots from all over the world. The fest puts up a spectacular show of balloons in all colors, shapes, and sizes over the snowed landscapes of the Alps. Make sure to stay until dusk when the ‘Night Glow' happens, the balloons lit with golden light adorn the starry sky is a mesmerizing show to behold.

When you are here for the festival make sure to visit the small village of Château d’Oex, one of the beautiful Swiss villages with its pretty chalets. There is also a Balloon Museum housed in the Town Hall of the village which exhibits artifacts and information on the history of hot air ballooning.

How to get to the festival: The village of Château d’Oex is around 50 minute's bus ride from the town of Montreux. Montreux is an hour's train ride away from Geneva and the Swiss capital Bern.

Balloon Fiesta Košice

Contributed by Peter Korchnak of Where Is Your Toothbrush
Balloon Fiesta Košice quietly celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2018. The country's only hot-air balloon festival is a summer highlight in the biggest city in eastern Slovakia (and my hometown).

Some two dozen balloons, launched in the early morning and evening flights by crews from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Holland, Belgium, and other countries dot the skies with a colorful spectacle for several days.

Additional events complement the main show: nighttime inflating of balloons, folklore music performances, fireworks, and activities for kids… It's a true fiesta! Hopes for favorable winds expressed in media previews of the June event have an all-too-real dimension.

The biggest challenge is the (in)famous Košice wind, blowing through the valley from the north. In 2015, for example, strong wind gusts marred the daily balloon launches.

Tickets for flights during the festival are available for purchase a month ahead of time. From above, you can catch amazing panoramic views of the historic downtown, suburbs sprawled over rolling hills surrounding the city, and, on exceptionally clear days, also the High Tatra Mountains 125 kilometers away to the northwest.

Hot Air Balloon Festival in South Africa

Contributed by Clemens Sehi of Traveller's Archive

It’s sunrise. The silence of the flight is punctuated only by the occasional blast of the powerful burners, while you let your view gaze over the Magalies River Valley in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site, or the Magaliesberg range in South Africa, not more than 45 km north of Johannesburg’s northern suburbs. You can hear the faint call of birds or other animals far beneath while hovering gently but majestically above the treetops.

In South Africa, hot air balloons were originally used by the military for reconnaissance purposes. Nowadays is an activity for everyone and any occasion, especially the ones where there is champagne involved. Somehow or other, it is a fabulous experience that you will never forget.

Hot air ballooning in South Africa has even been celebrated as a festival in the year 2015 as Hot Air Balloon Festival in Bethlehem. Rumor has it that this event might be repeated in the future. But there is more than that: an organization called BAFSA (Balloon and Airship Federation of South Africa) organizes the annual South African Hot Air Balloon Championships.

Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

Contributed by Jerny Destacamento of The Jerny
The PIHABF is celebrated every 2nd week of February at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, Philippines. The festival has been running for 21 years already. This longest-running sports and aviation festivity isn't just a weekend of hot air balloons.

There will also be days of flying activities including hot air ballooning, skydiving, aerobatic exhibitions, paragliding, aviation formation, search and rescue flight demos, and balloon bursting, among other aviation spectacles—await attendees and participants to the highly anticipated event.

It could also be a romantic spot for couples during Valentine's Day. Many attendees are getting engaged every year during the festivities including celebrities and famous people. A perfect time to propose!

Singha Park Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

Contributed by Vicki Garside of Make Time To See The World
Held around Valentine's Day every year, the Singha Park Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is a magical sight to behold. Pilots from more than 17 countries take to the skies in dozens of balloons throughout the four-day festival taking part in competitions, night flights, and scenic flights.

The balloons themselves are a work of art, whether you are a fan of the traditional rounded shape, or enjoy the fun character balloons – there's nothing like seeing a giant ‘angry birds' balloon floating across the sky! – and you could spend hours watching and photographing them!

What about you? Do you have a hot air balloon festival to recommend? Have you been to any listed above? Do share!

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