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The Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair in Lake Havasu, Arizona, is January’s largest balloon festival. This family-friendly event features live entertainment, carnival rides, food trucks, beer gardens, antique & classic cars, and more. We want to give you an overview of what you can expect at this event – and we want to tell you how to save money on your ticket.
Schedule
Now is a great time to tell, you, too, because it starts today. It runs through Sunday, January 25, 2026.
Here is the schedule:
Thursday
- 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Tethered Balloon Rides
- 2:00 PM to Close: Carnival
- 6:30 PM: “Glowin’ on the River” Night Glow or Field of Fire
- Takes place at the Balloon Field
Friday
- 7:20 AM: Sunrise Flag Ceremony
- Takes place at the Balloon Field
- 7:45 AM: Mass Ascension
- Weather Permitting
- Takes place at the Balloon Field
- 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Tethered Balloon Rides
- 4:15 PM: Afternoon Mass Ascension
- Weather Permitting
- Takes place at the Balloon Field
- 6:30 PM: “Glowin’ on the River” Night Glow or Field of Fire
- Takes place at the Balloon Field
Saturday
- 7:20 AM: Sunrise Flag Ceremony
- Takes place at the Balloon Field
- 7:45 AM: Mass Ascension
- Weather Permitting
- Takes place at the Balloon Field
- 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Tethered Balloon Rides
- 4:15 PM: Afternoon Mass Ascension
- Weather Permitting
- Takes place at the Balloon Field
- 6:30 PM: “Glowin’ on the River” Night Glow or Field of Fire
- Takes place at the Balloon Field
Sunday
- 7:20 AM: Sunrise Flag Ceremony
- Takes place at the Balloon Field
- 7:45 AM: Mass Ascension
- Weather Permitting
- Takes place at the Balloon Field
- 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Tethered Balloon Rides
Balloons
This event is called, after all, the Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair. So it probably goes without saying that balloons are an important part of this event.
The balloons are really spectacular and you’ll get to see dozens of them ascend into the sky.
This event is also a chance for you to see the event’s famous “splash-and-dash”, which is when the balloon pilots skillfully touch the water near the iconic London Bridge.
This event also features The “Glowin’ on the River”, a nighttime spectacular where hot air balloons are illuminated and choreographed to music by a DJ and MC.
And speaking of the hot air balloons, here is a list of the balloons appearing in the 2026 Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair.
🎈 2026 Balloons & Pilots
- Fleur de Tucson — Mike Fluery
- Free and Clear — Jim Dolan
- Sunset Dreams — Tom Steinbock
- Dream Catcher — Jeff Buchman
- Southern “Sunsational” — Dave and Kathy Reineke
- Mezzmerize — Steven Mezzancello
- Knot Crazy — Al Ruesch
- StarLite — Peggy Watson-Meinke
- Scenic Breeze — Steve Lacroix
- True Lee New Mexico — Bill Lee
- Auspicious — Marti Philpott
- Bottoms Up — Bruce Wood
- Northern Lights — Cliff Skocdopole
- Synchronicity — Jeff Haliczer
- Sunny Side Up — Donna Carlton-Vish
- Prometheus — Thayne Peterson
- Georgie Girl — Paddy Nilz
- Spirit Lifter — Mark Stewart
- The X-Rated Jester — Matthew Grote
- American Beauty — Rodney Griego
- Elevation — Michael Glen
- Concho — Daniel Backes
- Buzzards Roost — Earl Buzzard
- Desert Arura — William Blizzard
- Plot Twist — Steven Coffing
- Iris — Anthony Lard
- Deja Blu — Gary Whitby
- Cowboys Dream — Nicholas Abrams
- Alpha Zulu — Brooke Owen
- Sleep Thief — James Cassell
- Lemon — Steve Wilkenson
- Garys Balloon — Gary Morgan
- Pixel Perfect — Kinman Kingsley
- Pixie Spirit — Katelyn Salazar
- Dixie — Zack Maxwell
- Hot Minute — Tristan MacLean
- Inn of the Mountain Gods — William Baker
- Purple Haze — John Phillips
- Skinny Stuff — Mark Trillianes
- Seeking Nirvana — Sharon Hartshorn
- Silver Lining — Paul Olguin
- Auspicious — Marti Philpott
- Kays Wind Dancer II — Ken Walter
- Nefrer — Mike Bertetto
- WeGo — Ron Sanchez
- Upgrade — Justin Wilkenson
- Winter’s Breeze — Sheldon Graberger
🐾 Special Shapes
- No Prob Llama — Billy Broker
- Elvis Photo In Air — Deby Young
- Voluntold — Gary Moore
- Lilly Little Bee — Bob Romaneschi
- Montie the Black Sheep — Greg Ashton
- Ziggy the Raccoon — Mike Fielding
- Piggy — Chris P
- Bella the Bulldog — Paul Burrows
- Buster the Bulldog — Chris Jones
🏢 Corporate Balloons
- ReMax — Jean François Rigollet
- Real Magic — Laurie Spencer
⚓ Tether Balloons
- Soul Shine — Jeff Bennett
- Pala Casino — Brian Lynch
Promo Code
Looking to save money on this experience? Purchase a ticket here, and you can save up to 25% on your ticket. No promo code or coupon code is even needed since the discount is automatic.
Please note that children ages 10 years old and under enter free with a paid adult!