Plainville Fire Company Hot Air Balloon Festival
The annual Plainville Fire Company Hot Air Balloon Festival is set to take place on August 23rd and 24th, 2024 at Norton Park in Plainville, Connecticut. The festival has seen a consistent increase in the number of balloonists attending each year, and it is completely free to attend. There will be various arts, crafts, and food vendors on the premises throughout the weekend.
There will be entertainment on both Friday and Saturday, including a car show during the day on Saturday, August 26th, 2023. The balloons will launch twice on Saturday, at 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The craft show and vendors will be available from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Food concessions will be run by the Plainville Fire Company and their friends.
The festival also includes a fireworks display put on by the Plainville Fire Company every year, which is set to begin at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Friday night. In the event of inclement weather, the fireworks show will be postponed to Saturday. Several hot air balloons will also provide a balloon glow for attendees to enjoy.
This is an open event, and admission is free for everyone. There is no rain date scheduled.
Attendees are prohibited from bringing drones due to their potential danger to the balloons.
The Plainville Fire Co. does not offer balloon rides, but some balloonists may offer tethered rides on Friday night for a small fee. For flights, attendees should contact individual balloon companies, which can be found on lighterthanair.org.
Pets are not recommended due to the high-energy, crowded nature of the festival, which can be loud and potentially agitating for animals. There is ample handicapped parking available, but this year only identified handicapped individuals, motorcycles, and staff will be permitted to park at Norton Park.
Attendees are encouraged to share their photos via email at info@plainvillefireco.com (please send photos in landscape format only). The festival can also be followed on Facebook for up-to-date information.
For further information about the festival, attendees can email balloonfest@plainvillefireco.com.