2019 Great Smoky Mountains Hot Air Balloon Festival

Get ready to play and stand in awe in the Smokies at the 2019 Great Smoky Mountains Hot Air Balloon Festival! This summer – Saturday, August 17, 2019 – the skies above the Smoky Mountains will be filled with amazing, colorful hot air balloons creating a truly magnificent sight! If you’re looking for something fun, different, and perfect for a romantic date day out, a group outing, or a day with the family, the 2019 Great Smoky Mountains Hot Air Balloon Festival is the place to be!

What’s in store for you at the balloon festival? From 3:00 p.m. to 9 p.m. on August 17, enjoy:
• Dr. Magical Balloons
• Face painting
• Eurobungy
• Rock wall
• Kids’ train
• Water balloons
• Live music & entertainment
• Crafts – with live demonstrations and items for sale!
• Food trucks
• Local craft beer
• Tethered hot air balloon rides
• Wine tastings

They’ll start inflating the hot air balloons at dusk, and the balloons will glow for around an hour – around 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. If bad weather rolls in, they’ll use candlesticks to create a glow for the balloons! While the balloons won’t take off into the air, they will be up above you while they’re tethered to the ground.

Tickets + Parking
Parking is $20 per car (online) or $25 per car (day of at the event). Parking opens at 2:30 p.m., and if you buy a pass ahead of time, you’re guaranteed a spot! While they don’t have handicap parking, shuttles are available for anyone who needs help!

Pet-Friendly Fun
Pets are allowed at the 2019 Great Smoky Mountains Hot Air Balloon Festival, but consider how your pet will feel about large and noisy balloons before you decide whether or not you’ll bring them. Please keep pets on leashes and bring poop bags to clean up!

Event Location
The 2019 Great Smoky Mountains Hot Air Balloon Festival will be at the Townsend Visitor Center at 7906 E Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN 37882.

Where to Stay
That’s easy – in one of our beautiful Pigeon Forge, TN Cabins! We have hundreds of options, so whether you want a cabin with 1-2 bedrooms for a cozy retreat, a 3-6 bedroom property for your family and friends, or a large-group lodge for a retreat or reunion, we have a property for YOU! Plus, our cabins are packed with amenities, including big screen TVs, hot tubs, indoor jetted tubs, movie rooms, rec rooms with things like pool and arcade games, fully equipped kitchens, mountain views, Wi-Fi, and more!