Are you looking for a fun family vacation? Hot air balloon festivals are a great way to see the sights and enjoy some family time. And Texas is home to some of the best balloon festivals in the country.
Albuquerque may be the most famous balloon festival in the world, but Texas has its own share of ballooning events. Plano’s Balloon Festival is the oldest and largest balloon festival in Texas, and it draws balloonists from all over the country. The Great Texas Balloon Balloonfest is another large event, with more than 50 hot air balloons filling the sky.
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With so many different balloon festivals to choose from, you’re sure to find one that fits your schedule, your interests, AND your budget. Whether you want to see hot air balloons up close or take a scenic balloon ride, there’s something for everyone at these amazing events.
Check out our list of the best hot air balloon festivals in Texas and start planning your next road trip adventure!
Where to Find the Best Hot Air Balloon Festivals in Texas?
Here’s a quick glance at some of the balloon festivals you’ll find across Texas:
- April 7-9, 2023 – Horseshoe Bay Resort
- June 12-18, 2023 – Longview
- July 3-4 2023 – Terrell
- July 7-8, 2023 – Canton
- September 2, 2023 – Fredericksburg
- September 1-2, 2023 – Kyle
- September 8-9, 2023 – Paris
- September 21-24, 2023 – Plano
- September 29-30, 2023 – Selma
- November 26, 2023 – Fredericksburg
What to Expect at a Hot Air Balloon Festival?
So, what can you expect when you attend a balloon festival?
- For starters, most balloon festivals take place over a weekend. That means you can plan your trip around the event and make a whole weekend of it.
- Many balloon festivals also offer onsite or nearby camping options, so you can really make a vacation out of it.
- When you arrive at the festival, you’ll likely find a variety of food and drink vendors, as well as live music and other entertainment. And, of course, there will be plenty of hot air balloons!
- You can usually walk around and get up close to the balloon rigs and meet the pilots. In some cases, you may even be able to take a balloon ride.
- Admission to most balloon festivals is affordable, and some even offer discounts for children or seniors. I’ll include links to each festival’s website so you can get all the details.
- Coolers are often discouraged, as onsite vendors sell food and drinks.
- You can typically bring your own chair or blanket to sit on. Check the festival website for their specific guidelines. I love bringing my large festival/beach blanket so we can all sit together and enjoy the sky.
- Dressing for a Balloon Festival – The best advice is to dress in layers. It can be chilly in the morning and evening, but the days are usually warm. Comfortable shoes are also a must, as you’ll likely be doing a lot of walking.
Best Fall Texas Balloon Festivals
Now that you know what to expect, here are some of the best balloon festivals in the state.
The Balloon Festival
The Balloon Festival takes place at the Horseshoe Bay Resort on the shores of Lake LBJ near Austin. Over Easter weekend (Friday & Saturday), a large number of hot air balloons converge on the resort, creating a beautiful sight.
The festival offers balloon glows, helicopter rides, sky divers, Easter egg-drop, food, family-friendly entertainment, and live music. Friday night’s events are limited to VIP package guests only and include a Cowboy Cookout and Wine Tasting. Saturday is open to those with an adult pass. Children ages 12 and under are free with paid adult.
April 7-9, 2023 || Website
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The Great Texas Balloon Race
Every summer, the skies of Longview, Texas come alive with vibrant colors and daring aerobatics at its world-class hot air balloon event. Celebrating more than 30 years as the longest-running such competition in Texas, this earned Longview the official designation as “The Balloon Capital of Texas”. Hundreds of competitive pilots flock to East Texas Regional Airport for a thrilling show – soaring high above spectators on an awe-inspiring journey through one unforgettable weekend!
This year, Longview welcomes back the U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship June 12-18, 2023. The Great Texas Balloon Race competition run in conjunction with it on the final days (June 16-18). Both events offer balloon glows, live music, balloon races, fun run, and much more.
Admission is $15 for general admission Friday, $20 Saturday, or $30 for a weekend pass. General Parking is free and available in areas along Jaycee Drive.
June 16-18, 2023 || Website
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Terrell Freedomfest
The Terrell Freedomfest takes place every year on the 3rd and 4th of July. The festival held at the Terrell Municipal Airport on British Flying School Boulevard offers events on both days including a balloon glow, live music including a concert (paid admission night of the 3rd) and big fireworks show on the 4th. You can also find food vendors, tethered balloon rides, hot air balloon flights, games, live music, and more throughout both days.
Admission to the festival is free. Tethered rides are $20 cash and July 3rd concert tickets are $30.
July 3-4, 2023 || Facebook
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Canton Texas Balloon Fest
The Canton Balloon Fest event has been so popular that it moved to the First Monday Grounds in Canton in 2022. This 2 day event offers plenty of family fun including a car show, live music, great food vendors, art vendors, plus hot air balloon flights. and tethered rides You can also enjoy the popular Balloon Glow event on Saturday evening when hot air balloons light up the night sky.
Admission is based on the car size – single vehicles $20, vans (8-15 passengers) $50, and $75 for buses. RV camping is also available.
July 7-8 2023 || Website
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Fredericksburg Balloon Festival
The Fredericksburg Balloon Festival, located in the heart of Texas Hill Country, is a great event for the entire family with plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained. The balloon festival takes place at Bankersmith, Texas Dance Hall and Wedding Venue at 7905 Old San Antonio Road.
There will be food and drink vendors on-site, as well as amusements for the kids. You can also take balloon rides or helicopter rides on Saturday. Main festival activities take place Saturday from 3-8 pm. This event is family and pet-friendly, so you can bring your children and/or furry friends along for the fun.
Admission is $20 for general admission and $10 for children 12 and under. Admission with the tethered ride is $65 per person. VIP tickets are also available. Parking is $15.
September 2, 2023 – Saturday during Labor Day Weekend || Website
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Kyle Pie in the Sky Day Celebration
The city of Kyle is known as the “pie capital of Texas,” so it’s only fitting that they host a festival in honor of this delicious dessert. The Pie in the Sky Day Celebration held every Labor Day weekend features hot air balloon rides, live music, and, of course, plenty of pie. Doesn’t this sound like a delicious way to spend the weekend?
This event takes place at Gregg-Clarke Park in 2022 and will return to Lake Kyle Park (700 Lehman Road, Kyle) in 2023. You can take a tethered balloon ride, enter into a pie eating contest, visit the vendor market, and find new favorite sweet and savory pies from the many local vendors.
Admission is $10 for one day or $15 for the weekend for this family-friendly event, and there are plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained. Tethered hot air balloon rides are $15 per person from 4-8pm. Free parking and shuttle service are available at nearby Steeplechase Park, Lehman High School, and Tobias Elementary School. You can also use the city’s UberKyle $3.14 rideshare program. Click here for more info!
September 1st & 2nd || Website
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Paris Balloon & Music Festival
This annual event is held at the Lamar County Fairgrounds and features over 20 hot air balloons, live music, food trucks, live painting, food trucks, vendors, and more.
Make plans to attend the Balloon GLOW Friday and/or Saturday night at dusk. If you are an early bird, catch the Sunday morning balloon launch around 6:45 or 7am, weather permitting. This is when all the balloons inflate and light up, creating a beautiful display. You can also take teethered balloon rides weather permitting.
Admission is $5 per person at the gate, but you can watch the morning flights for free.
September 8-9, 2023 || Website
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Central Market Plano Balloon Festival & Run
This balloon festival and run take place in Oak Point Park in the City of Plano. In 2022, it is celebrating its 41 years as one of the biggest festivals in the state. It features over 30 hot air balloons, live music, kids’ activities, skydivers, food trucks, and more.
Balloons take to the sky each day of the festival. You don’t want to miss the balloon glow run starting at 7pm on the 21st. You can take tethered balloon rides any day of the festival for $30 adults or $20 for children ages 6-12 years old.
This is a family-friendly event with plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained. There is also a race series held on Saturday morning with a 1k, 5k, 10k and a half marathon.
Festival tickets are available online. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and children ages 3-12. Children under 36″ are free. All military and first responders are free. Parking is $10-$15. Kids Zone Fun rides prices range from $2.50 to $5 per ride or buy a wrist band for $20.
September 21-24, 2023 || Website
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Skylight Balloon Fest (Selma, Texas)
Celebrating it’s 5th year, Skylight Balloon Fest is one of the newest Texas Hot Air Balloon Fertivals. It is held at the River City Community Church Grounds in Selma, TX, just outside of San Antonio.
The festival offers a nightly Balloon Glow, an early morning launch Saturday and Sunday, live music, a family fun zone, petting zoo, Sunday church service, and more. Tethered rides are available Friday and Saturday night only.
Admission is $10 for 12+, $5 for ages 3-11, and free under 2 years old.
September 29-30, 2023|| Website
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Fredericksburg Hot Air Balloon Festival and Polo Match
This one-of-a-kind event takes place at the Grapetown Vineyard, located in Fredericksburg, TX. Enjoy a day of hot air balloon rides, polo matches, live music and more. The polo match is held in an open field with teams competing for a winner’s trophy.
The main attraction of the festival is the hot air balloons. You’ll find different types of balloons and you can even take a balloon ride (weather permitting). Ticket price TBA.
November 26, 2023 || Website
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If you want to see some incredible hot air balloons near me with the entire family, these Texas balloon festivals & events are definitely for you. Enjoy delicious food, live music, and plenty of balloon-related activities at any one of these fantastic festivals. And don’t forget to take a ride in a hot air balloon while you’re there! Remember that all these events are weather contingent, so be sure to check the website for updates closer to the event date.
For more Texas getaways, start here:
- Here’s Why Your Next Family Vacation Needs to be at North Texas Jellystone Park
- 7 Best Beaches in Texas for Families
- 5 Bucket List Worthy Caverns In Texas Hill Country
- Get Out of the Texas Heat with these 5 Family-Friendly Places in Dallas
Hot Air Balloon Festival FAQs
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Ready to Start Planning Your Trip? Use These Helpful Links to Book Your Trip!
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- LODGING
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- For packing cubes, we love these from Eagle Creek and these reusable silicon bags for a 3-1-1 bag from Stasher.
- TRAVEL PLANNING
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