The 2025 Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair presented by Anderson Toyota will be in full swing in just a few days January 9-12, 2025.

The schedule of events has been released on the Havasu Balloon Festival website and it is also now available on RiverScene Magazine.

Here are a few tips for the upcoming festival. All events are weather permitting.

Thursday morning, balloons will be at schools througout Lake Havasu. This is for local school children to get up close and personal with the balloons and ask the pilots questions. This is not open to the public.

Mass ascensions take place at sunrise after the Marine Corps League Color Guard flag ceremony and then again at 4:15 p.m. These are weather permitting. The best place to see the balloons up close is from the launch field at Lake Havsu State Park Windsor 4. Special Shape Balloons can also be viewed up close there as well.

Saturday morning, a 5K/10K will be held near the balloon field at 8:45 a.m. and 9 a.m. For more race and registration info, visit: havasuballoonfestival.com/balloonfest-5k/

“Glowin’ on the River” Night Glow is when balloons stay on the balloon field and fire their burners to make the balloons “glow.” Music will be be played and “Glowin’ on the River” merch will be for sale at the event.

There is no smoking or pets allowed at the Havasu Balloon Festival.

Paid tethered rides will be available in the mornings, but untethered rides will NOT be available this year. Tethered rides are $20 each.

Please be aware of chase vehicles on Lake Havasu streets during the Balloon Festival as well as chase safety boats in the Bridgewater Channel and on the lake. All chase vehicles on the street must obey traffic laws, but please be aware that they are there to assist in balloon landings.

Spectator boats, kayaks, and paddleboards on the lake or in the Bridgewater Channel must keep at least 200 feet away from hot air balloons in these areas. This is for safety of the balloon pilots, their passengers, you, and boat safety patrol if the balloons “Splash and Dash.” “Splash and Dash” is when balloons come down to lightly touch the water with the bottom of their baskets. The balloon festival wants to ensure safety for all, so please allow for space for pilots to do this.

RiverScene Magazine will be covering this the Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair throughout the weekend. Keep an eye on RiverScene Magazine website and social media for updated information on mass ascensions. We will go live on Facebook to post if balloons will fly or not after pilot briefings each day. Our coverage will be sponsored by Anderson Toyota. 

Here is schedule of events and have fun! 

THURSDAY – AFTERNOON

12:00 PM: Public Gates Open (All entrances)

12:00 PM: Food Vendors Open (Food Court)’

12:00 PM: Gondola Club/VIP Full Bar opens (Everyone Welcome!)

12:00 PM: – 6:00 PM: ALL Vendors Open (Vendor Row)12:00 PM – Beer Booths Open

4:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Live Entertainment “Swamp Donkey” (Main Stage)4:15 PM: Afternoon Mass Ascension (Balloon field) (Weather permitting)

5:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Gondola Club / VIP Meet and Greet Dinner (Gondola Club/VIP Tent)

6:30 PM: “Glowin’ on the River” Night Glow or Field of Fire (Balloon Field)

7:00 PM – 9:30 PM: Live Entertainment “Crosscutt” (Main Stage)10:00 PM: End of Scheduled Festival Events.Carnival & Some Vendors Will Remain Open After 9:00 PM

10:00 PM: Event Closed

FRIDAY – MORNING

6:00 AM: Public Gates Open (All entrances) (Special Needs Group 9:00 – Noon)

6:00 AM: – 10:00 AM: Gondola Club Breakfast (Gondola Club/VIP Tent)

7:20 AM: Sunrise Flag Ceremony (Balloon Field)

7:45 AM: Mass Ascension (Balloon Field) (Weather Permitting)

8:00 AM: Special Shaped Balloons on Display for Photographic Opportunities (Grass Balloon Field) (Weather Permitting)

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM: ALL Vendors Open (Vendor Row)

9:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Tethered Balloon Rides (Adults 12 and over – $20, Kids 5 or under – $5, Kids 6 to 11 – $10) (Tethered ride sale tent)(Weather Permitting)

9:00 AM: Food Vendors Open (Food Court)

9:00 AM – 2:00 PM:  Classic Car Display

10:00 AM – Beer Booths Open

10:00 AM: Gondola Club/VIP Full Bar opens (Everyone Welcome!)

10:00 AM: Paper Balloon Launch (Bleachers)

10:30 AM: Mohave County Sheriff K-9 Demo (Bleachers)

11:30 AM:  Doug Roy Master of the Unexpected Mentalist/Magician (Main Stage)

FRIDAY – AFTERNOON

12:00 PM: Freestyle & Synchronized Kite Exhibitions (Bleachers – Weather Permitting)

12:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Live Entertainment “Tyler Halsey” (Main Stage)

1:30 PM:  Doug Roy Master of the Unexpected Mentalist/Magician (Main Stage)

2:00 PM: Mohave County Sheriff K-9 Demo (Bleachers)

3:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Carnival Open

3:00 PM: Freestyle & Synchronized Kite Exhibitions (Bleachers – Weather Permitting)

3:30 PM: Hot Hips Belly Dancers (Bleachers)

3:45 PM – 6:15 PM: Live Entertainment “Briana Marie” (Main Stage)

4:15 PM: Afternoon Mass Ascension (Balloon field) (Weather permitting)

4:30 PM – 7:30 PM: Gondola Club / VIP Dinner (Gondola Club/VIP Tent)

6:30 PM: “Glowin’ on the River” Night Glow or Field of Fire (Balloon Field)

7:00 PM – 9:30 PM:  Live Entertainment “American Mile” (Main Stage)Carnival & Some Vendors Will Remain Open after 9:00 PM

10:00 PM: Event Closed

SATURDAY – MORNING

6:00 AM – 9:00 PM: Public Gates Open (All entrances)

6:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Gondola Club breakfast (Gondola Club/VIP Tent)

7:20 AM: Sunrise Flag Ceremony (Balloon Field)

7:45 AM: Mass Ascension (Balloon Field) (Weather Permitting)

8:00 AM: Shaped Balloons on Display for Photographic Opportunities (Grass Balloon Field by VIP Tent – Weather Permitting)

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM: ALL Vendors Open (Vendor Row)

9:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Tethered balloon rides (Adults 12 and over – $20, Kids 5 or under – $5, Kids 6 to 11 – $10) (Tethered ride sale tent) (Weather Permitting)

8:45 AM: Balloon Fest 10K starts (Lower End of Balloon Field)

9:00 AM: Balloon Fest 5K starts (Lower End of Balloon Field)

9:00 AM: Food Vendors Open (Food Court)

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM:  Kidz Zone Activities: Face painting, Craft Tent, Braids & Beads, Games (Kidz Zone)

9:00 AM – 2:00 PM:  Classic Car Display

9:30 AM: Lake Havasu Black Belt Academy Demo (Bleachers)

10:00 AM: Superhero Stunt Bike Team (Balloon Field)

10:00 AM – Beer Booths Open10:00 AM: Gondola Club/VIP Full Bar opens (Everyone Welcome!)

10:00 AM: Paper Balloon Launch (Bleachers – Weather Permitting)

10:30 AM: Mohave County Sheriff K-9 Demo (Bleachers)

11:00 AM:  Starline Performing Arts Center (Main Stage)

11:30 AM:  Lake Havasu City Disc Dogs (Bleachers)

SATURDAY – AFTERNOON

12:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Carnival Open

12:00 PM: Doug Roy Master of the Unexpected Mentalist/Magician (Main Stage)

12:00 PM: Superhero Stunt Bike Team (Balloon Field)

12:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Live Entertainment “Harry Luge” (Main Stage)

12:30 PM: Lake Havasu High School Pep Band (Bleachers)

1:00 PM : Smoketree Elite Baton Twirlers (Bleachers)

1:30 PM: Lake Havasu City Disc Dogs (Bleachers)

2:30 PM: Hot Hips Belly Dancers (Bleachers)

3:00 PM: Mohave County Sheriff K-9 Demo (Bleachers)

3:30 PM: Hot Hips Belly Dancers (Bleachers)

3:30 PM:   Doug Roy Master of the Unexpected Mentalist/Magician (Main Stage)

3:45 PM – 6:15 PM: Live Entertainment “The Black Donnellys” (Main Stage)

4:00 PM: Freestyle and Synchronized Kite Exhibitions (bleachers, weather permitting)

4:15 PM: Afternoon Mass Ascension (Balloon field) (Weather permitting)

4:30 PM – 7:30 PM: Gondola Club / VIP Dinner (VIP Tent)

5:00 PM: Superhero Stunt Bike Team (Balloon Field)

6:30 PM: “Glowin’ on the River” Night Glow or Field of Fire (Balloon field)

7:00 PM – 9:30 PM: Live Entertainment “Shotgun Jefferson” (Main Stage)Carnival & Some Vendors Will Remain Open after 9:00 PM

10:00 PM: Event Closed

SUNDAY – MORNING

6:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Public gates open (All entrances)

6:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Gondola Club breakfast (Gondola Club/VIP Tent)

7:20 AM: Sunrise: Flag Ceremony (Balloon Field)

7:45 AM: Mass Ascension (Balloon field – Weather Permitting)

8:00 AM: Shaped Balloons on Display for Photographic Opportunities (Grass Balloon Field by VIP Tent – Weather Permitting)

8:00 AM – 3:00 PM: ALL Vendors Open (Vendor row)

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Tethered Balloon Rides (Adults 12 and over – $20, Kids 5 or under – $5, Kids 6 to 11 – $10) (Tethered ride sale tent) (Weather Permitting)

9:00 AM: Food Vendors Open (Food Court)9:00 AM – 2:00 PM:  Classic Car Display

10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Kidz Zone Activities: Face painting, Craft Tent, Braids & Beads, Games (Kidz Zone)

10:00 AM: Beer Booths Open10:00 AM: Mohave County Sherriff K-9 Demo (Bleachers)

11:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Carnival Open

11:00 AM: Hot Hips Belly Dancers (Bleachers)

11:30 AM Freestyle & Synchronized Kite Exhibition (Bleachers – Weather Permitting)

SUNDAY – AFTERNOON

12:00 PM: Lake Havasu Black Belt Academy Demo (Bleachers)

12:30 PM: Hot Hips Belly Dancers (Bleachers)

12:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Live Entertainment “Kevin Jaxon and Midnight Sun” (Main Stage)

1:00 PM: Freestyle & Synchronized Kite Exhibition (Bleachers – Weather Permitting)

2:00 PM: Gondola/VIP Tent Closes

3:00 PM: Event Closes

General Admission tickets: