Every year, there’s an incredible hot air balloon festival in Medicine Hat. The Rise Up Hot Air Balloon festival is a wonderful, and free, way to spend a weekend exploring Alberta, and finding magic in the rolling hills and badlands in Medicine Hat.

Visit Medicine Hat between May 23-26, 2024 for the full festival experience, where you can get up early in the morning and watch hot air balloons rise with the sunset, or during the Glow experience when the hot air balloons rise up in to the air, while tethered to the ground. At this event, you’ll get an up close and personal experience - watching the hot air balloons come alive, rise with air, and float into the atmosphere.

Use these tips to plan your visit to the Medicine Hat Hot Air Balloon Festival 2024

• For any of the events, arrive early. There is limited on parking on site, and if you don’t arrive early, you might not be able to watch from the viewing area.

• Bring cash. There are plenty of activities for the kids to do while you’re there, and though some are free, some are not. Have cash on hand for any activities, or snacks, at the festival. The kids zone is a lot of fun, and the line moves quicker than you think it will for the attractions!

• Get a good spot! If you’re visiting during the Balloon Glow event, you’re going to want to get a spot right in the front. Have one parent camp out and claim your spot with a blanket, and one parent can walk around with the kids.

• Bring your own food. There are food trucks on site, but the lines are incredible busy! Last year, we waited in line for forty minutes just to grab a snack. Bring your own food, and drinks to avoid the wait!

• Dress in layers. When the sun goes down, it gets cold! We were freezing during the launch, even though it was so warm just an hour before. Bring layers, a sweater, and even a couple of extra blankets to cozy up in while you wait for the shows.

• Find the full schedule for the Rise Up Hot Air balloon festival, here.

To make the most of the festival, we suggest staying over night in Medicine Hat. This way, you can experience the Balloon Glow, and wake early the next morning to catch a sunrise launch! It’s an incredible experience, both times. During the morning launch, we were actually able to speak personally with a balloon pilot that has been taking part in the sport for more than fifty years, and watch the balloon inflate - even closer than the night before.

Add the Rise Up Hot Air Balloon festival to your bucket list this summer. Explore Alberta, find magic and make memories with an incredible summer of adventure.