The High River Hot Air Balloon Festival is a Must-Visit Festival this Month
Note: the festival information has been updated for 2024
The Heritage Inn High River Hot Air Balloon Festival in High River, Alberta, returns this fall. Find Hot Air Balloon festival brightening up the sky between September 25-29, 2024.
Throughout the four days of the festival, flights are planned for morning and evening, with special events like the Balloon Glow happening at Sunset. The Balloon glow is a magical event, where traditionally, the balloons are tethered to the ground, and lit up to glow, from the ground. It’s an incredible experience, and we suggest arriving early, with a blanket (and lots of layers for when the sun goes down) to watch the full process of the balloons being inflated. This year’s balloon glow happens on September 27, 2022 between 5-9pm. There are food trucks on site for a snack!
View the flight schedule for the High River Hot Air Balloon Festival, here.
Here’s what you should know before you go:
High River is just past Calgary, forty five minutes outside of the city. If you want to include the festival with a weekend packed full of fun in Calgary, it’s do-able with a short drive, as an alternative to staying in high river.
For your fall adventure, book your hotel early. Hot Air Balloon festivals are a popular weekend trip, and hotels will fill quickly if you’re staying right in High River.
This year, passenger rides are returning. Rides will be available for purchase September 6, 2022, prior to the start of the Festival, on the Balloon Festival website. The price is $300/person, and the amount of rides available are limited.
Getting to the Alberta Hot Air Balloon Festival
High River is located 356km from Edmonton, with a driving time of approximately three and a half hours. It’s a magical quick overnight trip, with enough adventure (and hot air balloon magic) for an entire weekend of fun.
