Strathaven Balloon Festival

13/09/2026

Thank you to everyone who has bought tickets for our raffle.
We are still sorting through the tickets, making sure every ticket is completed and added to the draw.
Once we are ready, we will post details of when the draw will take place. We will try to do a live video, so that people can see the draw being done.
We will post a list of our winners once the draw is done. Thank you to everyone who supported this.

If you would like to donate to our event, you can do this through our just giving page. Many thanks 🎈🎈

Help Strathaven Balloon Festival raise money to support Strathaven Balloon Festival

11/09/2026

The 2026 Strathaven Balloon Festival has now come to a close, and it was another success despite the weather. However, the level of inconsiderate and dangerous parking on Glasgow Road, North Street, Stonehouse Road and Commercial Road was unacceptable and created serious safety concerns. Vehicles parked irresponsibly put pedestrians, residents, emergency access and the future of the event at risk. At one point, we felt this could make 2026 the final Strathaven Balloon Festival, but we are determined to work with South Lanarkshire Council and our local community to find a solution.
Parking in the town remains one of our main challenges. Since the gridlock in 2018, we have operated park-and-ride services from a field on Coldstream Road, the yard at Gilmourton and, more recently, a field at Sidehead.

We are now reviewing our arrangements for 2027 and would like to hear from anyone with a suitable field on either the A723 or A726 that could complement our existing sites. We believe the current setup puts too much pressure on the Coldstream site, which serves traffic from both East Kilbride and Hamilton.
We are asking residents, landowners and local businesses to support the festival by helping us identify safe, practical parking options and by encouraging visitors to use official parking and park-and-ride facilities. With the community’s support, we can protect public safety and help secure the future of the Strathaven Balloon Festival.

If you have a suitable field and would be happy to discuss this with us, please send a message to our page or email [email protected]. We would be delighted to hear from you.

02/09/2026

Festival Raffle 🎈🎈
We have kindly been donated a Lawnmower, retailing around £500, to add to our raffle. Thanks to Brian Young Machinery and Garden Centre.
This along with our hot air balloon ride and an over night stay at the Strathaven Hotel has really added to our prize pot.
We have decided to continue the opportunity to purchase tickets for a few weeks, giving more people the chance to win.
If you are interested in buying tickets, please message below and we will send you more details.
Tickets are £1 or £5 for a book if 5.
Many thanks to those who have already bought tickets 🎈🎈

30/08/2026

That’s all folks, with rain having started, Strathaven Balloon Festival 2026 comes to a close shortly, with our last few bands playing for us until 7pm. Buses will continue to run to get people back to park and ride.

Thanks for joining us this weekend as we welcomed thousands of visitors to our brilliant town and hosted Scotland’s only hot air balloon festival.

We are a small committee of around 12 who live locally and give up our time freely throughout the year and in the weeks leading up to the event to plan and organise the festival.

We’re overwhelmed by the positive messages of support - from pilots, farmers, local residents and visitors - all the photos and comments you have shared, and will take onboard the feedback received on where we can improve things in the future.

As a free to attend community event and registered charity, we are incredibly grateful for the donations we receive, the stall holders, banner adverts at the arena and sponsors.

Thanks to the pilots and crews who give up their time to visit us, our volunteers who work incredibly hard, our suppliers, to local residents and everyone who visited the festival this weekend.

There’s still time to make a donation and we ask you to donate whatever you can to help fund our free to attend festival - to support the event costs this year and help ensure it can continue in future years.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/strathaven-balloon-festival-2

30/08/2026

Update at 9am on Sunday.

The weather is against us today, and it is very unlikely that there will be any hot air balloons, no tethering, or parachutists in the park. There is also no Evening Glow tonight.

Park and Ride will be open, with the exception of Coldstream Road which is closed due to ground conditions, but is limited due to wet fields, and we are monitoring the forecast for rain.

🎪🍔☕️ 🛍️the rest of the activities are continuing as planned - Stalls, Funfair and Catering outlets all open from 11am

🎵 The Main Stage and Band Stand stages are open from 12’noon with live music and local acts.

🚙 🅿️If you are parking in Strathaven, please support the festival by parking responsibility. If you live locally, please consider walking down to the park.

29/08/2026

Update at 10.30pm on Saturday, there will be no early morning flights tomorrow at 6am due to the forecast rain.

We are monitoring the weather for later in the day, meanwhile the stalls/funfair/catering outlets will be open from 11am.

We’ll be back online tomorrow to keep you updated and will see you in Strathaven Park 😃🎈

29/08/2026

Thanks for joining us today, we hope you enjoyed the festival 🎈😃

Please patient when leaving the park, and the park and rides; make your way home safely.

We will be back here at 6am with an update on activities for Sunday, to be based on the latest forecasts tomorrow.

29/08/2026

Update at 8.45pm in Strathaven Park, the Evening Glow will go ahead tonight at approx 9pm 🎈😃 🔥 with the forecast rain, we will have two retired balloons inflated and flanked by baskets and burners - feel the heat, see the flames and enjoy the music

29/08/2026

Update at 6pm, the balloons have taken off whilst the upper winds were favourable this evening to ensure the flight slot could still take place.

And they’ll be back for the evening glow around 9pm 🎈😃 we are monitoring the forecast and are optimistic for the glow, with an update to follow before then.

PARKING - Coldstream car park is full so has closed for new admissions. Buses will operate as normal for passengers returning to their cars later. Sidehead and Gilmourton car parks are open.

29/08/2026

Update at 5pm on Saturday, the balloons are preparing to launch from Strathaven Park in the next 30mins.

We have launched a JustGiving page and ask you to donate whatever you can to help fund our free to attend festival - to support the event this year and ensure it can continue in future years: https://www.justgiving.com/page/strathaven-balloon-festival-2