Hot Air Balloon Festivals are a beautiful sight to see, full of color, excitement, and fun!
Watch hot air balloons inflate right in front of you, cheer along with the crowd as they rise, and eventually take off towards the sky. Soon the skies are filled with colorful shapes and sizes floating and dancing, gradually moving off into the distance.
On other nights, the balloons inflate in surrounding fields and slowly move over the horizon preparing to land right in front of the excited crowd. Occasionally, pilots compete in challenges such as dropping a flag within a boundary to see who can come closest to the target.
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PLEASE NOTE: As things continue to rapidly change during this unusual time, it is always a good idea to verify details before visiting.
Balloon Glows
Our favorite events are the Evening Balloons Glows.
On the count of One … Two … Three … GLOW!, the pilots create a beautiful landscape of colors glowing in the night sky. They mix it up with a flicker, alternating glows among balloons, or all of the balloons glow at the same time.
Many times, spectators are invited to walk amidst the balloons, asking the pilots and crew questions. My kids love also collecting cards from each balloon crew!
Midwest Hot Air Balloon Festivals
**It is always recommended to verify before visiting as dates, times, and locations can change.Â
Montpelier Bean Days Balloon Fest
Montpelier, OH
July 17 – 18, 2020 – Balloon flights, glows, and special events.
Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival
Ta Ha Zouka Park, Elkhorn, NE.
August 7 – 8, 2020 – Balloon launches and Balloon Glows, Entertainment.
Nationals & Old West Balloon Fest
Gering, NE
August 11 – 16, 2020 – Hot air balloon launches and balloon glow.
Quad Cities Balloon Festival
East Moline, IL
August 14 – 15, 2020 – Balloon launch, balloon glow, play area for the kids, and more.
Centralia Balloon Fest
Centralia, IL
August 21 – 23, 2020 – More than 40 hot air balloons, balloon glows, and fireworks.
Huff ‘n Puff Hot Air Balloon Rally
Topeka, KS
September 11 – 13, 2020 – Balloon flights and balloon glow.
Great Forest Park Balloon Race
St. Louis, MO
September 18 – 19, 2020 – The oldest and most well-attended FREE hot air balloon event in the world.
Creston / SW Iowa Hot Air Balloon Days
Creston, Iowa
September 18 – 20, 2020 – More than 40 balloons participate in races over the weekend. In addition, there is a parade with a marching band contest, also a doll show, arts & crafts fair, flea market, balloon night glow, food booths, and more.
Ravenna Balloon A-Fair
Ravenna, OH
September 19 – 20, 2020 – Balloon Lift Off, parades, fireworks, and more.
Columbus Day Festival Hot Air Balloon Regatta
Columbus, KS
October 9 – 11, 2020 – 20 balloons from all over the area will begin with a balloon glow on Friday evening, then followed by three regattas over the weekend (weather permitting).
Love a little history? Population 91 shares about a road trip itinerary based on the Peoria, IL, Hot Air Balloon Race in 1909. This was an endurance/distance race and the winner landed near Dixon, MO.
More Midwest Fun
   
More to Come …
As more festivals are announced for 2020, we’ll let you know about them! These are festivals that have taken place previously.
Falls City Hot Air Balloon Launch
Falls City, NE
TBA
Great Plains Balloon Race
Sioux Falls, SD
TBA – Balloon launches and balloon glows.
Hudson Hot Air Affair
Hudson, WI
TBA – A fun winter event! Family-friendly events such as an evening parade, hot air balloon launches, geocaching, marketplace and craft fair, and hot air balloon moon glow. Read more about the Hudson Hot Air Affair from Exploration Vacation.
Lincoln Balloon Festival
Lincoln, IL
TBA – A relaxed gathering of hot air balloons. Learn more about this new, relaxed hot air balloon festival here.
Fields of Flight – Ditmar’s Orchard
Council Bluffs, IA
TBA – Watch hot air balloons from around the Midwest land and/or takeoff right in front of you in the picturesque beauty of Ditmar’s Orchard. Live music, balloon glow, and competition flights. Always a favorite fall event.
Indiana Balloon Fest
Bloomington, IN
TBA – Balloons, fireworks, and more.
Great Pershing Balloon Derby
Brookfield, MO
TBA – Balloon competitions, vendors, parade, and more.
Macomb Balloon Rally
Macomb, IL
TBA – Balloons, family fun, balloon glow, and more.
We hope these festivals return in 2021:
Great Galena Balloon Race
Galena, IL
CANCELED FOR 2020
Ashland Ohio Balloonfest
Ashland, OH
CANCELED FOR 2020 – Instead, they have the Ashland BalloonFest 29 ½ Fly-Over on the evening of Saturday, June 27, 2020, and the morning of Sunday, June 28, 2020.
Michigan Challenge Balloonfest
Howell, MI
CANCELED FOR 2020
Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show & Balloon Festival
Battle Creek, MI
CANCELED FOR 2020
Lisle’s Eyes to the Skies Festival
Lisle, IL
CANCELED FOR 2020
National Balloon Classic in Indianola, IA
About 25 minutes south of Des Moines
CANCELED FOR 2020 – One of our favorite Summer events! 9-day festival at the end of July with nearly 100 hot air balloons filling the sky including special shapes! Balloon flights, Dawn Patrol, Wacky Classic Parade, Fireworks, live music nightly, and our favorite – Night Glows.
Read more about this wonderful Hot Air Balloon Festival from The Walking Tourists and Olio in Iowa.
Nearby, be sure to also visit the National Balloon Museum (The Walking Tourists).
