Calgary 
Come see hot air balloons up close and personal at the Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival, where “fun takes flight”.
High River Balloon Festival will begin on the 24th of September and continue until the 28th. This yearly fall festival features balloon flights and a “Night Glow.”
Most flights are scheduled for the morning and evening. The entire hot air balloon experience can take up to 4 hours, from pre-launch to post-landing. The morning launches are at 7:30 a.m., and the evening launches are at 5:15 p.m.
Passenger rides cost $445.00 (plus GST per person) and are currently available for select sunrise flights (7:00 – 11:00 a.m). The sunset flights are now on waitlist, but Alberta offers a few options where you can enjoy hot air balloon rides.
The rest of the festival is free, and you can watch the colourful balloon flights on the Macleod Trail launch field. You can watch the balloons from the perimeter, but you won’t be allowed to do so on the launch field. The south and east side offer field-level views, and the west and north side offer above-field-level views. Once these balloons have taken flight, chase vehicles will follow them, and you can follow the chase vehicles. Parking is available, and they recommend arriving 15-30 minutes prior to the scheduled flight time.
The Balloon Glow (also known as Night Glow) event will take place on Friday, September 26. This is a magical evening when you can watch the hot air balloons “up close and personal.”
The Balloon Glow offers a unique experience featuring pre-Glow activities like a walk-in balloon, DJ, and dancers. As sunset approaches, balloons are inflated and illuminated, allowing attendees to wander underneath and experience the heat, sound, and sight of glowing balloons against the night sky, creating a memorable evening. Food trucks will also be there at the event.
The event is at the Wallaceville Site on Centre St. across the bridge north of Sobeys.
Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival – Trip Planning
What: The Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival returns to High River for the 9th year in a row. Featuring balloons from around the world, there will be lots to see in the skies over High River!
When:
(All events are weather-dependent; check the official website before travelling.)
Night Glow: Friday, September 26, 2025, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM; Balloon Glow: 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Flights:
September 24 | 5:30 PM
September 25 and 27 | 7:30 AM & 5:15 PM
September 26 & 28 | 7:30 AM
Where:
Night Glow: Wallaceville site on Centre St across the bridge north of Sobeys — North Airport, Centre St N N 1, High River, AB T1V 1M5
Balloon Flights: Macleod Trail SW & Deibert Close SW, High River
For those attending, parking options for the Balloon Glow are as follows:
Park & Ride Shuttles:
- South pick-up: beside Calgary Co-op on 12 Ave SW
- North pick-up: NW entrance to rodeo grounds off 498 Ave / Hwy 543
Park & Walk
- Accessible parking section on the west end of Macleod Trail SW.
- Downtown area: street and public parking
- Residential streets
How much: free, Balloon Ride: $445, Plus Fees
