Carolina BalloonFest

Name: Carolina BalloonFest
Address: 531 Old Airport Rd., Statesville, NC, 28677, US
Telephone: +17044956735
Price range: $

Home
United States
Statesville, NC
Carolina BalloonFest

Mark your calendars! The 51st Carolina BalloonFest will take place from October 16-18, 2026! Over the recent five years, National Balloon Rally Charities, Inc.

Carolina BalloonFest, as a nonprofit and a festival, hosts an annual family-friendly event held during the third weekend in October. Bring your cameras, lawn chairs and blankets to experience our fun-filled weekend of outstanding entertainment, attractions, and activities while taking in the warm, autumn Carolina sun, between our morning and afternoon scheduled flights. Activities include:

Speci

al Shapes
3 Mass Ascensions
2 Hot Air Balloon Sanctioned Competitions
Friday & Saturday Evening Balloon Glow
Hot Air Balloon Flights
Tethered Balloon Rides
Pilot Meet & Greet
Wine & Craft Beer Garden
Main Stage Entertainment
Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course
Kids Zone & Stage
Walk In Balloon
Artisan Village & MarketPlace
Eat Street & Beer Tent

Our Mission...
To continue the heritage of hot air ballooning in Iredell County, spotlight the community of Statesville and donate a percentage of Carolina BalloonFest proceeds to local nonprofit organizations. has contributed over $787,000 to local nonprofits who volunteer many hours with us to host this tradition for thousands of spectators!

04/16/2026

🎈 The wait is over!

2026 tickets for the Carolina BalloonFest are officially available now.

Don’t wait, secure your tickets and start the countdown to October. ✨

🗓️October 16-18, 2026

🎟 Grab yours today: https://www.carolinaballoonfest.com/

04/15/2026

1 Day to Go! 🎈

Just one more day until tickets go on sale for Carolina BalloonFest!

🗓️October 16-18, 2026

Set your reminder… tickets go live tomorrow at 9am EST!

04/07/2026

Nothing compares to this view. 🎈

Who’s ready to see it again this fall?

October 16-18, 2026

04/02/2026

🎈 Fun Fact: Did you know a hot air balloon can be over 6 stories tall when fully inflated?

That’s taller than many buildings and when dozens of them lift into the sky at once, it’s truly a sight you have to experience to believe.

Every year, the skies over Carolina Balloon Fest fill with these incredible giants of the sky.

Tickets go on sale April 16 at 9AM EST

Who’s ready to see them up close?

03/26/2026

🎈 What happens after the balloons land matters most.

Last year, the Carolina BalloonFest gave $125,000 to 25+ local charities serving families, children, and neighbors throughout Iredell County.

That support helped fund:
• Programs for children
• Assistance for families in need
• Resources for our most vulnerable neighbors
• Real, tangible impact right here at home

Every ticket purchased.
Every sponsor who stepped up.
Every volunteer who gave their time.
It all adds up.

And we can’t wait to see what kind of impact we’ll make together this year. 💙

03/24/2026

It takes hundreds of hands to lift something this big. 🎈💛

The Carolina BalloonFest wouldn’t be possible without the incredible volunteers who show up year after year to make the magic happen.

From early-morning field prep to greeting guests, assisting pilots, directing parking, selling merchandise, and everything in between — our volunteers are the heartbeat of the Carolina BalloonFest weekend.

The reason families leave saying, “We’ll be back next year.”
We are so grateful for every single person who gives their time and energy to this tradition.

If you’ve volunteered before, drop a 🎈 in the comments so we can celebrate you.

03/22/2026

Spring has a way of reminding us that new seasons are always ahead. 🌸
As the days get longer and the skies get brighter, we’re already dreaming of balloon-filled mornings and fall traditions waiting to return.

🎈 October will be here before we know it.

📅: October 16-18, 2026
📸: itsfloweringshop

03/20/2026

Hello, Spring.

Longer days. Warmer air. Bluer skies.

And every sunny afternoon just reminds us how good it feels to look up and see balloons filling the horizon.

The first day of spring means we’re one season closer to the sky coming alive at the Carolina BalloonFest.

We can almost feel that October breeze already.

Who else is ready for color in the sky? ☀️🎈

03/17/2026

🍀🎈 Feeling Lucky?

This St. Patrick’s Day, we’re counting our lucky charms… and they look a lot like hot air balloons filling the sky.

We’re lucky for:
• A community that shows up year after year
• Incredible pilots who travel to Statesville
• Volunteers who make it all happen
• And skies that never disappoint

While you’re searching for four-leaf clovers today, we’ll be dreaming of colorful balloons rising over Iredell County.

October may feel far away, but trust us… it’ll be here before you know it. 🍀✨
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from the Carolina BalloonFest team!

03/15/2026

🎈 When Tickets Go Live…

You’ll want to be ready.

The skies will fill.
The countdown will begin.
And the excitement will officially take off.

🎟️ Tickets for the Carolina BalloonFest go live
April 16th at 9:00 AM EST.

Mark your calendar. Set your alarm. Tell your group text.
This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. ✨

🗓️October 16-18, 2026

03/10/2026

🎶🎈 We’re curious…

If you could hear any band take the stage this year at the Carolina BalloonFest… who would it be?

Country? Rock? Beach music? Throwback hits?
Local favorite? Big name headliner?

Drop your dream lineup in the comments 👇

We can’t promise anything… but we are listening. 🎶✨

03/08/2026

Longer Days = Closer to Carolina BalloonFest

We may have lost an hour this weekend… but we gained something even better — more daylight. ☀️

And every extra minute of sunshine means we’re one step closer to cool October mornings, colorful skies, and that first balloon lifting off the field.

Daylight Savings just hits different when you know what’s coming. 🎈✨

The countdown to the Carolina BalloonFest is officially feeling real.

Who’s already dreaming of sunrise launches?

🗓️October 16-18, 2026

Address

531 Old Airport Rd.
Statesville, NC
28677

Telephone

+17044956735

Website

http://www.CarolinaBalloonFest.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Carolina BalloonFest posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Carolina BalloonFest:

Shortcuts

Want your business to be the top-listed Event/venue in Statesville?