Hot air balloon festival maryland 2023

Our best plans for a festival in 2022 did not work out. We now look to 2023!

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Our Maryland Hot Air Balloon Festivals from the Past
And The Dreamstar Balloon Team did IT AGAIN! We invited 20 balloon pilot friends from all parts of the country to come to town and participate in our very own Balloon Festival right here in Howard County Maryland. Do you remember The Turf Valley Resort Balloon Festivals?
Festival Attendance Guidelines
A Message from the Balloonmeister What does 'WEATHER PERMITTING' mean? FOR SAFE FLIGHT: 1. Winds on the surface should be less than 7 mph 2. Winds at 3000 feet should be forecasted to be less than 20 mph 3. Rain should not be in the forecast for the period of scheduled flight 4. A hot air balloon should not be in the air within 100 miles of a thunderstorm 5. Balloons launch only at sunrise and 1-3 hours before sunset The most desirable flying conditions are good visibility, light winds and no precipitation Final decision as to fly or not to fly is made 45 minutes before scheduled flight during the pilot briefing -Ron Broderick, BallooningUSA.com
Balloon Demonstration
OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS: --- Our host hotel is Turf Valley Resort, Ellicott City, MD. See other Other Lodging Accommodations
"For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return." -- Leonardo da Vinci
Where is the best hot air balloon festival?
What is the most famous hot air balloon festival?
Where is the world's largest balloon festival?
Which is the biggest ballooning event in the world?

Our Maryland Hot Air Balloon Festivals from the Past

Maryland Friends preparing to launch in 2019

Festivals Past - Turf Valley Resort

Maryland Festivals Past- Turf Valley

Maryland Festivals Past- Balloon Glow

Maryland Festivals Past- Spectators up close

Festivals Past- Spectators enjoying the action

Maryland Festivals Past

Festivals - Drone captures Many Spectators
gathered around the "Hot Air Balloon Pit"

Maryland Festivals Past-Getting it Hot!

And The Dreamstar Balloon Team did IT AGAIN! We invited 20 balloon pilot friends from all parts of the country to come to town and participate in our very own Balloon Festival right here in Howard County Maryland. Do you remember The Turf Valley Resort Balloon Festivals?

Remembering the early morning balloon launch - 2017 Festival at the Fairgrounds

Photo courtesy of Debra Prior

Festival Activities include:
-- Four mass ascension flights of up to 15 hot air balloons
-- Special Shape Balloons will join in the fun
-- Passenger balloon flights - BOOK your FLIGHT Early!
-- Tethered balloon rides
-- Walkabout balloon
-- Balloon Training Demonstration
-- Kids Zone
-- Entertainment: featuring The Fabulous Hubcaps Band on Friday
-- Delicious Foods from 16 Food Vendors
-- Specialty Crafts from 80++ crafters
-- Sponsors - we cannot do without!

HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHTS:

Come fly with us in one of our beautiful balloons. $250 per person for a 30-45 minute balloon flight. Five mass ascension flights are scheduled: Friday 6:30PM. Saturday 6AM & 6:30M, Sunday 6AM. Passengers will be booked in advance. Experience the Wonder!

TETHERED BALLOON RIDES:

A hot air balloon, tethered to the ground, will offer rides ($20 adults and $10 children under 12) up to 60 feet in the air for up to 5 minutes. No advanced booking is required.

WALKABOUT BALLOON:
Welcome Kids and Adults!

A non-airworthy hot air balloon will be partially inflated on the ground. Children and adults will be able to venture into the center of this colorful balloon ($3 children and adults). Pay on site.

BALLOON GLOW
So what is a balloon glow?

The hot air balloon festival event now known as a balloon glow was invented in Albuquerque in 1979, when local pilots inflated balloons on Christmas Eve night as a thank you to local residents. The sight of balloons lit from within at night like giant holiday ornaments is breathtaking, and glow events are now held all over the world.

Festival Attendance Guidelines

You may not bring:
-- pets (service dogs are allowed)
-- coolers, bottles, cans or food
-- beach umbrellas
-- popup tents are permitted (with conditions, see below)

You may bring:
-- lawn chairs
-- blankets
-- popup tents (conditions for your popup tents to be used: You will be assigned a location. Tent will be set up only on perimeter of spectator area & must be properly secured to the ground. The first 20 tents will be allowed. After that, if space is available, additional tent space requests will be provided on a case by case basis. Any pop up tents seen setting up anywhere else will be required to be removed. No Exceptions!

A Message from the Balloonmeister What does 'WEATHER PERMITTING' mean? FOR SAFE FLIGHT: 1. Winds on the surface should be less than 7 mph 2. Winds at 3000 feet should be forecasted to be less than 20 mph 3. Rain should not be in the forecast for the period of scheduled flight 4. A hot air balloon should not be in the air within 100 miles of a thunderstorm 5. Balloons launch only at sunrise and 1-3 hours before sunset The most desirable flying conditions are good visibility, light winds and no precipitation Final decision as to fly or not to fly is made 45 minutes before scheduled flight during the pilot briefing -Ron Broderick, BallooningUSA.com

Balloon Demonstration

Kids and Adults will have an opportunity to participate in a hands on FREE demonstration of "HOW BALLOONS WORK". Scheduled from 2-3PM Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Lead pilot/instructor is Matt Hodgdon from Mt Airy MD.

OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS: --- Our host hotel is Turf Valley Resort, Ellicott City, MD. See other Other Lodging Accommodations

"For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return." -- Leonardo da Vinci

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Where is the best hot air balloon festival?

1. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta | Albuquerque, NM. Drawing over 900,000 visitors and 600 pilots from seven countries over a nine day period, this is the largest and longest running balloon festival in the country.

What is the most famous hot air balloon festival?

Featuring more than 500 balloons, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the world's premier ballooning event.

Where is the world's largest balloon festival?

From a small gathering of 13 balloons in 1972, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has grown to become the largest balloon event in the world. Held each year during the first week in October, the Balloon Fiesta now features about 600 balloons and 700 pilots.

Which is the biggest ballooning event in the world?

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, powered by ExxonMobil is a festival of hot air balloons that takes place in October in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. It is the largest gathering of balloons and balloonists in the world.

hot air balloon festival maryland