12th annual chester county hot air balloon festival

June 2018

12th Annual Chester County Hot Air Balloon Festival

22 June 2018 05:00 - 24 June 2018 18:30

festivals

New Garden Flying Field 1235 Newark Rd, Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania 19374, USA.

$ Ticket price starts from : USD 15

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About 12th Annual Chester County Hot Air Balloon Festival

Celebrating our 12th year, the Chester County Balloon Festival is a must attend event providing family fun for all ages. Experience Chester County and the unique and historic Del Val Region from the ground up! The Chester County Balloon Festival is a non-profit organization with portions of the proceeds going to the Chester County Hero Fund and other local youth community groups.

The popularity of the Chester County Balloon Festival has experienced incredible growth the past few years. We will be returning to our new home at New Garden Flying Field in Toughkenamon, PA on June 22nd, 23rd, 24th 2018. The airport is located at 1235 Newark Road just off Highway 1, allowing visitors from all over Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and New York convenient access.

The expanded 3-day (Friday-Sunday) schedule highlights over 20+ hot air balloon taking flight twice per day, balloon glow featuring Special Shaped Balloon Rodeo, untethered and tethered balloon rides, and a walk-thru balloon. For a complete schedule of events, see the Festival Information page.

The ever popular Saturday Night Fireworks are back! Historically this is a crowd pleaser and we are very excited to have them back!

FESTIVAL EVENTS SCHEDULE

Schedule is subject to change, please come back to this page regularly for updated info.

Friday June 22nd

Airport Runway Closed (4:00-10:00 pm)
8:00 am-3:30 pm Vendor Set-up (Can arrive anytime)
3:00 pm Volunteer Meeting
4:00 pm
- Gates open, haywagons provided by Atlantic Tractor
- Vendors Open
- Kite & Bubble Show 4-5:30pm by Wind Wolves
- Hops & Grapes Wine and Beer Garden Opens
- Kid Zone Open (4:00-9:00 pm)
- Learn to Dive Pool opens by Let's go Diving
- Band begins - Half Past Seven
- WGK Glass Art & Wine Tasting Opens Driveway near entrance
- Monster Truck rides start
- Balloon History Display until 6pm by the Aero Club of Pennsylvania
- 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Balloon/Helicopter Flight Sales tent will have a balloon basket photo area
5:00 pm
- Tethered Balloon Rides Start, weather and safety permitting. Tickets sold on the field only.
- Remote Control Plane Demo
- Balloon Pilot Briefing
5:30-6:30 pm Balloon Setup begins
6:30 pm Band begins - Tommy Froelich Trio
6:30 pm Balloon launch, weather and safety permitting
8:30 pm Balloon glow, weather and safety permitting
9:00 pm Festival closes

Saturday June 23rd

5:00 am to 8:00 am Airport runway is closed
5:15 am Balloon Pilot Briefing
5:30 EAA Coffee & Donuts on the runway
5:30-6:30 am Balloons launch, weather and safety permitting, spectators are welcome with free admission and parking. Spectators will be cleared and expected to leave the airport before gates open or pay at the gate at noon.
7-11:30am EAA Pancake Breakfast
Runway open 8am - 12 noon, free admission to flyins
2:00 pm
- Airport Runway Closed (2:00-3:15 pm)
- Gates Open, haywagons provided by Atlantic Tractor
- Kite demo and bubble frenzy including candy drops by Wind Wolves and SJKF until 3:00 pm
- Vendors open for lunch
- Hops & Grapes Wine and Beer Garden (Wine Only)
- Walk Through balloon begins, weather and safety permitting
- Balloon/Helicopter Flight Sales tent will have a balloon basket photo area until 7:00 pm
- Helicopter Rides (2:00-5:00 pm)
- Learn to Dive Pool opens
- Kid Zone Until 9:00 pm with Interative Learning Station by Girls Exploring Technology for Tomorrow
- Kite making station by South Jersey Kite Flyer in Kids Zone
- Balloon History Display until 6pm by Aero Club of PA
- Monster Truck rides start
- WGK Glass Art & Wine Tasting Opens Driveway near entrance
2:00 pm
- Tethered Balloon Rides Start, weather and safety permitting
2:00 pm Band begins - Bob Croce
3:00pm - 9:00pm Victory Beer Sales in Wine & Beer Garden
5:00 pm
- Remote Control Plane Demo
- Balloon Pilot Briefing
- Airport runway closed (5:00 pm-10:00 pm)
5:30 pm Band begins - Tommy Froelich Trio
6:30 pm Balloons launch, weather and safety permitting
7:30 pm Band begins - Half Past Seven
8:30 pm Balloon glow, weather and safety permitting
9:30 pm Fireworks (rain date Sunday)

Sunday June 24th

5:00 am to 8:00 am Airport runway is closed
5:15 am Balloon Pilot Briefing
5:30 EAA Coffee & Donuts on the runway
5:30-6:30 am Balloons launch, weather and safety permitting, spectators are welcome with free admission and parking. Spectators will be cleared and expected to leave the airport before gates open or pay at the gate at noon.
7-11:30am EAA Pancake Breakfast
Runway open 8am - 12 noon, free admission to flyins
12:00 pm
- Gates Open, haywagons provided by Atlantic Tractor
- Monster Truck rides start
- Kite demo 12-3pm bubble frenzy, candy drop until 3:00 pm
- Vendors open
- Hops & Grapes Wine and Beer Garden Opens (Wine only)
- Kid Zone Open 12:00-6:00 pm with Interative Learning Station by Girls Exploring Technology for Tomorrow
- Balloon History Display until 6pm by Aero Club of PA
- Learn to Dive Pool opens by Let's go diving
- WGK Glass Art & Wine Tasting Opens
- Fire trucks arrive
- Walk Through balloon begins, weather and safety permitting
- 12:00 - 7:00 pm Balloon/Helicopter Flight Sales tent will have a balloon basket photo area
- Helicopter Rides (12:00-5:00 pm)
1:00 pm
- Tethered Balloon Rides 1:00pm - 6:00pm
- Fire Truck Parade
- 1:30 pmFirefighter Aerial Rescue Demonstration
- 2:30 pm Search & Rescue Dog demo
2:00pm - 7:00pm Victory Beer Sales in Wine & Beer Garden
3:00 pm Band begins - Half Past Seven
3:00-6:00 pm Tethered balloon Rides, weather and safety permitting
5:00 pm
- Remote Control Plane Demo
- Pilot briefing
- Airport runway closed (5:00-8:00 pm)
5:30 pm Band begins - Half Past Seven
6:30 pm Balloon Launch, weather and safety permitting

Rain Date from Saturday Night events, if applicable

Airport runway closed (5:00 pm-10:00 pm)
6:30-8:30 pm Tethered balloon rides, weather and safety permitting
8:30 pm Balloon glow, weather and safety permitting
9:30 pm Fireworks

FREE ADMISSION FOR MORNING BALLOON LAUNCHES

On Saturday and Sunday morning during the Chester County Balloon Festival we plan on launching balloons starting at 5:30AM. Admission and parking is free. Be sure to arrive early so that you don’t miss the launch. Updates will begin at 5AM on Facebook.