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A beloved Rocky Mountain tradition, the three-day Snowmass Balloon Festival features 30+ hot air balloons inflating with the backdrop of the mountains and skies of Snowmass Village.
Due to fire restrictions in place in Pitkin County, balloons will remain on the ground for this year’s festival unless conditions improve. Instead of flying, the pilots will do a static inflate, meaning balloons will inflate but will not leave the ground. This precaution was made with safety as the top priority.
At the Night Glow on Friday, the festival grounds will open at 6:00pm, and balloons will inflate starting around 7:00pm. At the Saturday & Sunday events, festival grounds and balloon inflations will take place 7:00-9:00am.
For the best weekend viewing, hiking, biking and activities, check out our weekend guide here.
To commemorate an extra special anniversary year, you will find an elevated experience at the launch field on Saturday & Sunday, including t-shirts and posters for sale, a kids zone with balloon-themed coloring books, special edition playing cards, stickers, and trading cards. There will also be a Spanish language translator at the Guest Services booth to assist with navigating the grounds and answer any questions.
New Belgium Ranger Station will have food and non-alcoholic beverages for sale, and Base Camp Bar & Grill will have coffee and pastries. After you’ve seen the balloons in all their beauty, stroll the Snowmass Mall or Base Village to enjoy breakfast or brunch.
Please note that early mornings in September can be very chilly, and we recommend wearing warm layers and closed-toe shoes.
There is no seating on the launch field, but spectators are welcome to bring blankets and chairs to sit along the perimeter of the field. Dogs are not allowed on site. There is absolutely no parking on any road shoulders within Snowmass Village due to drought conditions, including Brush Creek and Owl Creek Roads adjacent to the festival grounds. Free parking is available at Town Park Station and the Rodeo Lot, as well as the Brush Creek Park & Ride, with consistent free shuttle service to the site and around Snowmass Village.
To volunteer for the event, please click here.
Don’t miss the magical experience of the Night Glow on Friday evening, where balloons will be tethered and glowing all around the field, with a festive playlist and free glow-in-the-dark goodies. This is a great opportunity to meet the pilots and see the balloons up close.
Arrive early to see the balloons before they go up in the sky, and grab some food to watch the mass ascension!
The second day is just as good as the first! Join for the final day of the festival, and then head out into the village to explore the trails and grab something to eat after the balloons go up.
The Snowmass Balloon Festival takes place in Snowmass Town Park. If you are staying outside of Snowmass Village, RFTA provides free public transportation from Aspen and the Brush Creek Intercept Lot to Town Park Station. Free parking is available at the Brush Creek Intercept Lot. Routes and schedules can be found here.
The Snowmass Village Shuttle provides free public transportation throughout Snowmass Village to Town Park. Routes and pick-up locations can be found here.
If you are driving, there is limited free parking available in the Base Village Parking Garage. If you park in the garage, take the elevator up to Base Village, where you can then catch the Village Shuttle or RFTA down to Town Park.
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