HV Hot-Air Balloon Festival FAQ
Have a question you don't see listed below?
Feel free to contact the Chamber via email or by calling (845)-454-1700 Ext. 1000, or call the HV Hot-Air Balloon Festival Hotline powered by Central Hudson Gas & Electric Co. at (845)-454-1701.
Our social media accounts will be updated regularly. Feel free to post your questions there, so others can benefits from the answer too.
There are three different types of hot-air balloon flight options:
- Full flight morning: 6:30AM - (Check-in is at 5:30AM) $350 per person
- Full flight evening: 5:30PM (Check-in is at 4:30PM) $350 per person
- Tethered Ride: $30 per person
*Tethered rides are sold in cash the day of, no reservation required.
For a full flight, a $75 per person, non-refundable deposit will be charged at the time of registration. The remaining total is due at time of flight in cash.
For full detailed information on Balloon rides please click here.
General Admission
(Required donation)
Morning Admission: $13.95 per person for either Saturday or Sunday
Evening Admission: $23.95 per person either Friday, Saturday or Sunday
All Weekend Access Pass: $37.95 per person for morning or evening access on all three days of the festival.
Children Admission
Admission to the festival for children under age 3 is FREE.
Parking
Parking is free. For full detailed information on Parking please click here.
Event is rain or shine. ALL BALLOONS TAKE-OFF AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE PILOT. Sometimes, due to impending weather, wind, or other conditions, balloons will launch early, late or not at all. Please plan to arrive roughly 30 minutes or more prior to the scheduled launch time to ensure you see the balloon inflate and rise. Up-to-the-minute info about launch times and delays, will be available via the Chamber's Facebook and Twitter postings throughout the festival. All sales are final. No refunds or exchanges. All Hot-Air Balloon launches are wind and weather permitting. If wind and weather conditions are not ideal and safe for ballooning the pilot(s) will not inflate or fly - refunds will not be issued if you do not see balloons inflate or fly.
*By making a donation you agree to all of the above terms and conditions and understand refunds and exchanges will not be issued under any circumstances.
*Please note: your donation for a reservation per person is good for one person admission to attend the hudson valley hot-air balloon festival at tymor park for the date and time of your reservation.
Scheduled Takeoffs:
- Friday: 5:30PM
- Saturday: 6:30AM & 5:30PM
- Sunday: 6:30AM & 5:30PM
*Times may vary based on wind and weather conditions, and may not happen at all if conditions do not allow.
Hot-Air Balloon Illumination Moon Glow will begin after dark.
Safety is our top priority, all launches are wind and weather dependent. For mor information on balloon flight times and safety please visit: Hot-air ballooning Wikipedia
*Note: with any amount of wind, hot-air balloons will likely not inflate and/or fly.
To avoid thermal activity (wind activated by the sun) during the day, Hot-Air Balloons launch at sunrise and approximately two hours before sunset as a safety precaution. All times are approximate as current weather conditions must be taken into consideration for your safety.
For more information on industry standards and safe hot air balloon practices, check out the flight times section found under 'Flight Techniques' here: Flight Times: Wikipedia
ALL BALLOONS TAKE OFF AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE PILOT. Sometimes, due to impending weather, wind, or other conditions, balloons will launch early, late or not at all.
Balloon launches are scheduled to take off at specific times, however the time may vary based on the wind and weather conditions and balloons may not inflate or fly at all if conditions are not optimal.
Please plan to arrive an hour prior to the scheduled launch time to ensure you see the balloons inflate and rise. Allow extra time for traffic. Up-to-the-minute information about launch times, including delays will be available via the Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival Social media postings throughout the festival.
For more information on industry standards and safe hot-air balloon practices, check out: Hot-air Ballooning
FREE parking is available but is limited. You may be parking in a field. Wear closed toed shoes and footwear you don't mind getting dirty! Please follow posted signs and/or volunteer instructions to find parking.
Handicapped parking is available, but is also limited. Follow the signs accordingly. Please have your state issued disabled parking permit visible. A parking attendant is on duty to provide assistance. Should handicapped parking fill up then the overflow will park in general parking with drop-offs allowed.
Our festival strives to produce a fun and safe family event. In so doing, we must enforce prohibited items and behaviors. Listed below are some of the common prohibited items and behavior, but does not limit itself to the following:
- Pets are not allowed (All service dogs must have PROOF of rabies vaccination to enter the grounds) Not sure if your animal qualifies as as service animal, then check HERE.
- Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, rollerblades, heelies, segways, and golf carts, are not allowed
- No overnight parking
- No picnicking in parking lots
- No Camping
- No tents allowed
- No alcohol
- No Drones
- No firearms, knives and weapons of any kind
- Shirts and shoes are required at all times
- No outside food or beverages
No outside food and beverages allowed. There will be plenty of food trucks, food and retail vendors, concessions, and more available for purchase! Bags are subject to search.
To apply to become a vendor for the festival, you must complete and submit an applicator. This is a juried event, and we do require vendors to be there all three days of the festival.
You can fill out an application here.
While the Hot Air Balloon Festival is a 3-day event Hot-Air Balloon take offs are at scheduled times* only.
Please be sure to check the festival schedule for when these events will happen so that you can best plan your visit.
*Balloon launches are at the sole discretion of their pilots and are contingent upon many weather permitting conditions, which is why their times are also approximate.
No pets are allowed at the festival at any time.
Service dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for persons with disabilities will be admitted. All animals must have PROOF of rabies vaccination to enter the grounds. Do not leave pets in vehicles. Any animal left in a vehicle will be turned over to the local authorities at the expense of the owner.
Please check out the Service Animal section on the ADA's Website: Service Animal FAQ
Feel free to bring folding chairs and blankets, just please be courteous to the balloonists and other visitors. You may also bring them on the shuttle.
Tymor park is mostly on grass, so it might be muddy and/or dusty. We suggest all visitors should dress appropriately including wearing sturdy, closed-toe footwear and clothes you won’t mind getting dirty. The use of bug and tick repellent and sunscreen is STRONGLY recommended.
Between launches, the balloons are often either in transit back to the original launch site from their previous launch, or are being fueled, prepared and maintained by the balloonist. Because of this, when the balloons are not being prepared for a launch they are not visible to the public.
A tether ride is where a balloon is secured to the ground via rope, often tied to vehicles that lasts not more than 5 minutes. The balloon then lifts off the ground to the limit of the rope and then slowly descends. Tether Rides are available for $30 per person (CASH ONLY) onsite.
Yes! A limited number of balloon rides are available for a fee. All passengers must be tall enough to see over the side of the basket (approximately 48-inches). Basket size varies from balloon-to-balloon; therefore riders may not be able to ride together. Passengers should dress in comfortable clothing and closed-toe footwear. The temperature might vary only a couple of degrees from the ground temperature. In the past, balloon rides have been used for engagements, weddings, client rewards, birthday/graduation gifts and more. Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience! There is a weight limit in a balloon basket and for safety reasons each rider must be under 250lbs.
For a full flight which can last up to 45 minutes from setup to pack up, you must make a reservation in advance and can do so HERE.
Tether Rides will also be available for $30 per person - CASH ONLY the day of the festival.
Keep in mind that balloon may not fly due to wind and weather conditions.
A typical balloon adventure is approximately three hours from set-up through pack-up with the actual flight lasting up to 45 minutes. You will also enjoy a champagne toast with your pilot and crew and then be returned to the launch site in your balloon’s chase vehicle.
*Please Note: signing up for a balloon flight does not guarantee you will fly, as flights are completely dependent on weather. ALL BALLOONS TAKE OFF AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PILOT.
ALL passengers MUST check-in at the Balloon Ride Booth with ID, pay the balance due (CASH ONLY) and sign the liability waiver. Please plan to arrive roughly an hour prior to the scheduled launch time to ensure you see the balloon inflate and rise.
*Traffic may cause significant delays, please plan accordingly. Refunds will NOT be issued for missed rides due to late arrival.
If your launch is cancelled for any reason, if there is room at a later launch, you will be asked to try and reschedule at check-in the day of the canceled launch. If, at the end of the weekend, NONE of the launches were successful, only the deposit will be refunded.
The moon glow will be a stationary display on Friday and Saturday nights. After dark, weather and wind permitting, a few balloons will fire their burners. When the burners are fired, it makes the balloon glow.
The wind determines a balloon’s direction. Balloons simply float with the wind. The pilot can control the balloon’s altitude to find a wind going in the desired direction, but you cannot fly upwind or crosswind.
Balloons simply float with the wind. Preflight planning ensures the pilot knows which way the balloon will be traveling, and the pilot makes sure there are plenty of suitable landing sites downwind.
A chase crew follows along in a van or truck. The chase crew is in radio contact with the pilot, so they can be there when the balloon lands (or soon afterward). You will be returned to the launch site in your balloon’s chase vehicle.
Not typically. Balloons float with the wind, so cannot easily change direction. It is rare that balloons land back at the original launch location, but it does happen. Balloon chase vehicles and balloon crew will follow the hot-air balloon to it's final landing site.
As soon as any decision is made on the cancellation of balloon launches, information will be immediately posted to the Balloon Festival website as well as on our social media pages. ALL DECISIONS TO CANCEL OR PROCEED WITH BALLOON LAUNCHES ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE PILOTS.
*Remember, numerous factors contribute to unsafe conditions for ballooning including rain, wind, lightning, etc. For more information on standards and safety for hot-air balloons including launch times, please visit: All About Hot-Air Ballooning
Yes! We recommend visiting the Chamber's Business Directory for a complete list of local hotels and motels. We suggest booking your room in advance!
Of course! Please post it to any of your social pages and share it with #BalloonFestHV.
YEs! Please visit the Chamber's Business Directory for a complete list of local restaurants, cafes, and diners. The Hudson Valley is also home to The Culinary Institute of America, where you can find some of the finest cuisine in the world.
Yes! Visit our partner, Dutchess Tourism, Inc. or check out the Chamber's Community Calendar for a list of local attractions and happening.