Tigard Festival of Balloons - Oregon

06/04/2026

🎈 Meet Pilot Paul Adams & Busy Livin’ 🎈

Some people dream about flying. Paul Adams decided to make it happen.

After a visit to the world-famous Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Paul was completely captivated by the beauty, freedom, and community of hot air ballooning. Inspired to turn that dream into reality, he returned home to Washington and committed himself fully to learning the craft.

Working with instructor and coach Mandy Johnson, Paul immersed himself in training, even living in a trailer on the Johnsons' property while completing an intensive five-month journey to earn his pilot's license. That dedication paid off, and this May marked the first anniversary of becoming a licensed balloon pilot. 🎉

Today, Paul can often be found soaring above Washington's beautiful Enumclaw Plateau, embracing every sunrise, launch, and landing while continuing to grow his love for the sport. ✨

🎈 Balloon: Busy Livin’
🔥 Balloon Size: 90A
🔥 2 burners
🔥 3 propane tanks
🎉 Celebrating one year as a licensed pilot!

As we continue Growing Our Legacy, Paul's story reminds us that it's never too late to chase a dream, learn something new, and become part of the incredible ballooning family.

Come see Paul Adams and Busy Livin’ June 26–28 at the Tigard Festival of Balloons! 🎈✨

Who knows? Watching Busy Livin’ drift across the morning sky may inspire your next adventure. 🌅🎈

06/01/2026

🎈 Meet Pilot Chris Hancock & Harvest 🎈

For Chris Hancock, ballooning isn’t just a passion — it’s a lifelong family tradition. Introduced to hot air balloons at just 10 years old when his dad got into the sport, Chris grew up surrounded by launches, festivals, and the magic of lighter-than-air flight across the Pacific Northwest. 🎈✨

That early start turned into an international ballooning career. Today, Chris flies' passengers daily out of Aurora with Portland Rose Balloons , helps people check off bucket-list dreams, and competes in balloon competitions around the world — with flights in 14 different countries and counting! 🌍🔥 Even his own family has grown up in the skies, with his children taking their first balloon rides as infants.

And this year, Chris and Harvest are making their FIRST appearance at the Tigard Festival of Balloons! 🎉

🎈 Balloon: Harvest
🔥 275,000 cubic feet
🔥 88 gallons of propane
🔥 3 burners
🎈 1,200 LTA flight hours
🧺Harvest can accommodate 12 passengers
🎉 First year at TFOB!
❤️ Wife: Natasha

🌅 Want to take your own flight? Harvest is also offering paid passenger rides all weekend at the festival through Portland Rose Balloons— your chance to check a balloon ride off your bucket list right here in Tigard! 🎈✨

As we continue Growing Our Legacy, Chris’s story is a perfect reminder that sometimes ballooning isn’t just a hobby — it’s a way of life passed from one generation to the next.

Come see and take a ride with Chris Hancock and Harvest June 26–28 at the Tigard Festival of Balloons! 🎈

06/01/2026

Don't walk to register!

Happy June! The Tigard Festival of Balloons - Oregon Fun Run 5K is coming up on June 27. Don't forget to register before June 10th to get a free Fun Run t-shirt. Click the link below to register the whole family!

https://www.tigard-or.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/11559/186

05/30/2026

🎈 Meet Pilot Derek Hancock & Evergreen 🎈

For Derek Hancock, ballooning started as a simple curiosity… and turned into a lifelong adventure that’s taken him around the world. After crewing for a friend in the mid-90s, one flight was all it took — he was hooked. Instead of moving to Phoenix for a corporate job, Derek made a bold choice that changed everything: he took the layoff package, bought a balloon, and never looked back. ✨

What followed has been an incredible career in the skies — flying since 1996, logging over 3,500 flight hours, and piloting balloons in more than 16 countries around the world. 🌍🎈

And now, Derek and Evergreen return to Tigard once again as part of the festival family! 🎉

🎈 Balloon: Evergreen
🔥 180,000 cubic feet
🔥 70 gallons of propane
🔥 2 burners
🎈 3,541 LTA flight hours
🎉 5th year at TFOB
❤️ Wife: Maureen

🌅 Want to take your festival experience to the next level? Evergreen is also offering paid passenger rides all weekend through Rose Balloons — giving guests the chance to float above Tigard and experience the magic firsthand. 🎈✨

As we continue Growing Our Legacy, Derek’s story is a reminder that sometimes the biggest life changes come from the smallest moments — like that first flight.

Come see Derek Hancock and Evergreen soar June 26–28 at the Tigard Festival of Balloons! 🎈✨

05/29/2026

🎈 Meet Pilot Jon & Sky 🎈

Sometimes all it takes is one flight to change your life. For Jon, that moment came in 2017 when an Ultimate Frisbee teammate took him up in a hot air balloon. What started as a single unforgettable ride soon became a passion that completely changed his career path — and his future. ✨

After joining a balloon crew in 2020, Jon dove headfirst into the sport, earning his commercial license and trading office life for life above the beautiful Willamette Valley. Today, he spends his days sharing the magic of ballooning with passengers and creating memories that last a lifetime. 🎈❤️

And this year, Jon and Sky are making their FIRST appearance at the Tigard Festival of Balloons! 🎉

🎈 Balloon: Sky
🔥 140,000 cubic feet
🔥 50 gallons of propane
🔥 2 burners
🎈 350 LTA flight hours
🎉 First year at TFOB!
❤️ Partner: Kelsey

🌅 Want to experience the festival from above? Sky is one of the balloons offering paid passenger rides through Portland Rose Balloons during this year's festival, giving guests a chance to create their own unforgettable ballooning memories!

As we continue Growing Our Legacy, stories like Jon’s remind us that one experience can spark a lifelong passion and inspire a whole new adventure.

Come see Jon and Sky soar June 26–28 at the Tigard Festival of Balloons! 🎈✨

Who knows? Watching Sky float across the morning sky might just inspire the next generation of balloonists. 🌅🎈

05/28/2026

🎈 Meet Pilot Raphy Hayes & Daybreak 🎈

Get ready to look WAY up when Daybreak launches into the skies at this year’s festival! At an incredible 250,000 cubic feet, this giant balloon carries 8–12 passengers at a time and is sure to be a breathtaking sight over Tigard. ✨

Raphy Hayes first discovered ballooning in 2017 from his friend Chris Hancock and instantly fell in love with the sport. What started as helping on the ground quickly turned into flight lessons, earning a commercial license in 2021, and becoming one of the Pacific Northwest’s rising balloon pilots. Today, Raphy flies more than 100 flights a year and has already logged around 600 hours in the air! 🎈🔥

And this year marks an exciting milestone — it’s Raphy and Daybreak’s FIRST appearance at the Tigard Festival of Balloons! 🎉

🎈 Balloon: Daybreak
🔥 250,000 cubic feet
🔥 88 gallons of propane
🔥 3 burners
🎈 600 LTA flight hours
🎉 First year at TFOB!
❤️ Partner: Kenzie

As we continue Growing Our Legacy, we’re thrilled to welcome pilots like Raphy who are helping inspire the next generation of ballooning enthusiasts. Daybreak is one of the balloons offering paid rides with Portland Rose Balloons during the event.

Come see Raphy Hayes and Daybreak soar June 26–28 at the Tigard Festival of Balloons! 🎈

❤️

05/27/2026

Witness the magic as hot air balloons lift from trailer to sky. From ground crew to field helpers, every role makes this moment possible. 🎈✨

Want to join the Balloon Crew — a.k.a. the “cool kids”? 😎 Sign up now at http://www.tigardballoon.org/volunteers

There are plenty of volunteer opportunities all weekend long. TFOB is brighter every year because of you! ❤️

Tag a friend and make memories together!

05/24/2026

🎈 Meet Pilot Justin Anderson & Sea Breeze 🎈

What started as a curious kid watching balloons drift across the Walla Walla skies turned into a lifelong dream taking flight. Since first joining balloon crews in 1998, Justin Anderson spent more than TWO decades learning the art of ballooning before officially becoming a pilot in 2024. Now, he’s bringing that same excitement and inspiration to communities across the Pacific Northwest — just like the pilots who inspired him years ago. ✨

And this year marks a huge milestone… it’s Justin and Sea Breeze’s FIRST appearance at the Tigard Festival of Balloons! 🎉

🎈 Balloon: Sea Breeze
🔥 90,000 cubic feet
🔥 40 gallons of propane
🔥 2 burners
🎈 First balloon flight: July 5, 2002
🎉 First year at TFOB!
😂 Crew Chief status: “What is a crew chief? You’re supposed to have one of those?”
❤️ (Shoutout to partner John for keeping things grounded!)

As we continue Growing Our Legacy, Justin’s story is a reminder that dreams built over time — with passion, patience, and community support — can truly soar.

Come see Justin Anderson and Sea Breeze June 26–28 at the Tigard Festival of Balloons! 🎈

📲 Follow the adventure:
Facebook: Sea Breeze Balloon Adventures
TikTok: Sea Breeze Balloon
Instagram:

05/23/2026

🎈 Meet Pilot Koh Murai & Firenze 🎈

From the skies over Texas to adventures across Africa, Europe, New Zealand, and beyond — Koh Murai’s ballooning journey has truly been one for the history books. Since his very first flight in April 1978, Koh has spent decades exploring the wonder of lighter-than-air flight, including six years working in scientific ballooning where “near space” became part of the adventure. 🚀✨

But for Koh, the real magic of ballooning isn’t just the freedom of flight — it’s the people met along the way: crew members, passengers, spectators, and the communities that make every launch unforgettable. ❤️

🎈 Balloon: Firenze
🔥 1,133 LTA flight hours
🔥 40 gallons of propane
🔥 1 burner
🎉 Celebrating 20 years at Tigard Festival of Balloons!
👨‍✈️ Crew Chief: Janna — Koh’s granddaughter and student pilot 💫

As we continue Growing Our Legacy, Koh and Firenze represent the generations, friendships, and traditions that keep ballooning soaring year after year.

Come see Koh Murai and Firenze June 26–28 at the Tigard Festival of Balloons! 🎈