Love hot air balloons? The Southwest has some great hot air balloon events for you to enjoy. From the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta to the Great Reno Balloon Race, you'll love the beauty of these colorful balloons.
©Elizabeth R. RoseThe Great Reno Balloon Race is a spectacle to behold. Each morning, over 100 hot air balloons rise in mass ascension from Rancho San Rafael Park, filling the sky with blobs of color in the dawn light. Held annually in September.
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a "must do." Fall in New Mexico is a time of cooler temperatures and brilliant colors. The Aspen forests in the north paint the mountainsides. Albuquerque hosts wine and arts and crafts festivals. But what most visitors look forward to in fall is the colorful International Balloon Festival. Held annually in October.
The Rally is held the first full weekend in December in Gallup, New Mexico. It attracts over 200 hot air balloons from all around the world. A unique event held in the red rock canyons outside of Gallup.
The Snowmass Balloon Festival fills the sky with one of the highest-altitude balloon events in the country. Highlights include a specialized Kid's Zone and the Saturday evening glow, barbeque, and free concert where brightly colored balloons light up the night sky and twinkle on and off like starts. Held annually in September.
Small but colorful Balloon Event in Northern Arizona. Usually held the first weekend in November.
Located in scenic Southern Utah with a stunning backdrop of the colorful mountains of Cedar City; the Cedar City SkyFest is a dynamic festival featuring hot air balloons, kites, and radio controlled airplanes. Held annually in September.
Usually held in May, the Panguitch Valley Balloon Rally, Southern Utah's premier hot air balloon event is a family-friendly event. This event is held in Panguitch, UT which is a designated National Historic District. Thirty five hot air balloons will be launching each morning at 6:30 a.m. Spectators are welcome to join in the fun by crewing, or helping pilots to inflate and launch their hot air balloons. Other festivities throughout the town are planned.
