The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival is one of the most unique events on the Gulf Coast, bringing dozens of hot air balloons, live entertainment, and a full weekend of activities to Foley, Alabama.

If you’re searching for the Gulf Coast Balloon Festival 2026, here’s everything you need to know including dates, schedule highlights, parking, and the best times to go.

Gulf Coast Balloon Festival 2026 dates and location

The 2026 festival takes place:

Dates: April 30 through May 2, 2026
Location: OWA Parks & Resort (Foley, Alabama)

The event is centered around the OWA complex, with balloon activities taking place in the adjacent festival fields.

What is the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival

The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival is a multi-day event centered around hot air balloons, with additional live music, food vendors, and family-friendly activities.

The main attractions are:

Morning balloon ascensions
Evening balloon glows

Wind conditions determine when balloons fly, so timing matters when planning your visit.

Festival schedule highlights

While exact times can shift based on weather, these are the key experiences to plan around:

Evening balloon glow

Balloons stay tethered and light up after sunset
kayak in glowing kayaks underneath the balloons
One of the most popular parts of the festival

Daytime activities

Live music and entertainment
Food trucks and vendors
Kids activities and family zones

Evening is typically the busiest time of the day.

Best times to go

Afternoon: Easier parking and lighter crowds
Evening: Peak experience with balloon glow

If you are only going once, the evening glow is the main event.

Glow Kayaking and Drone Show

One of the most unique ways to experience the festival is during the evening events, when both the balloon glow and drone show take place.

Aura Adventures operates glowing kayaks and pedal boats on the lake at OWA Parks & Resort, creating one of the most unique experiences tied to the festival.

From the water, the setting combines glowing kayaks, illuminated hot air balloons across the festival grounds, and a coordinated drone show overhead on Friday and Saturday nights.

On Friday and Saturday nights, the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival features a drone show, adding a coordinated light display in the sky above the festival grounds after dark. These shows are scheduled alongside the evening programming and are one of the main nighttime highlights.

Parking and transportation

Parking is managed around OWA Parks & Resort and surrounding areas.

What to expect:

Traffic increases significantly in the evening
Overflow parking and walking required at peak times
Earlier arrival makes a big difference

If you plan to attend the balloon glow, plan to arrive well before sunset.

What to bring

Lawn chairs or blankets
Comfortable shoes
Water and sun protection
Cash or card for vendors

The festival is spread out and requires walking between areas.

Can you ride in a hot air balloon

Balloon rides may be available but are limited.

They are:

Weather dependent
Not guaranteed
Often first come, first served or pre-booked

Most attendees go for viewing rather than riding.

Why this festival stands out

The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival is one of the few events on the Gulf Coast where you can see multiple hot air balloons in one place.

It combines

A large visual experience
Family-friendly activities
Live entertainment
Unique viewing options like being on the water

It is one of the most photographed events of the spring

More things to do in Pensacola this April

Looking for more events, festivals, and things happening this month?

From Mullet Toss to the Crawfish Festival and Blue Wahoos games, April is packed.

See everything going on here:
https://www.mustdopensacola.com/news/things-to-do-pensacola-april-2026

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Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival 2026: Dates, Schedule, Parking, and What to Know