By Becky Maxedon

One of the premier events of the season is set to fill the skies Jan. 18-21.

The Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair presented by Anderson Toyota at Lake Havasu State Park Windsor 4 is expected to bring the thrill of seeing hot air balloons in the skies over the area once again. In addition to the balloons, there are balloon rides, evening glows, vendors and more.

Conditions permitting, there are flights and glows scheduled for both morning and evening.

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

“The event site is the best place to see them together and up close and personal,” Balloon Meister Gary Moore said.

Moore stressed the importance of event goers to understand how conditions affect the schedule of flight and inflation during the event.

“Sometimes the ground wind speed will be low, and it will seem like a good day, but the upper winds can be faster and a bad direction causing us to cancel flights. We may still inflate the balloons on the field for pictures and questions for the pilots,” Moore said.

Another staple of the event includes visits to local schools by pilots and their balloons to share their knowledge and enthusiasm for hot-air ballooning.

Always fan favorites are the special-shaped balloons.

The Elvis special shape balloon, piloted by Deby Young is returning for the 2023 Havasu Balloon Festival. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

This year’s edition of the festival will not disappoint and included are Tiny the Fire Dog with pilot Henry Rosenbaum of Virginia; Busby the Royal Guard with pilot Paul Burrows from the United Kingdom; Yogi Bear with pilot Tom Stienbock of Kentucky; Speedy with pilot Earl Buzzard of Colorado; First in Flight (representing the first balloon flight with sheep, rooster and duck) with pilot Scott Griswold of New York; Elvis with pilot Debby Young of New Mexico; Bandit (Raccoon) with pilot Diane Karlsson of Texas; Mango the Seahorse with pilot Jacob Little of Arizona; and Joto (Green Elephant Brazilian cartoon character) with pilot Luiz Paula Gnecco Rodrigues De Assis of Brazil.

Balloon rides are available only at the site with a line at the ride tent.

Tethered rides are available at the Havasu Balloon Festival on the balloon field. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

“There is a limited number of available rides for each opportunity, so please come early. There are no advance rides sold. There will be tethered balloon rides at the field as long as the weather conditions allow,” Moore said.

Balloon flights at the event site are early mornings at sunrise and late evenings. The glows begin around sunset.

“There are a lot of other activities at the event throughout the day. Please check the schedules,” Moore said.

Bands play throughout the day at the Havasu Balloon Festival Presented by Anderson Toyota. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

He added there has been only one year out of 12 that the balloons didn’t get at least one flight in, and there have been years when every inflation and multiple inflations occurred.

“The whole purpose of this festival is to entertain the spectators, families, and to put smiles on people’s faces,” Moore said.

The Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair is a charitable event hosted by the Lions, Rotary and Kiwanis clubs of Lake Havasu City.

More than $1 million over 12 years has been distributed to local charities.

Non-Profits accepts checks from local service groups in Lake Havasu City. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

ADMISSION:

Gates open at Windsor 4 on Thursday, January 18 at 12 p.m.-10:30 p.m. ; Saturday 6 a.m.- 9 p.m.; Sunday 6 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Admission is $20 for adults over 12; under 12 are free.

Tethered balloon rides: $20 for adults over 12; $5 for kids 5 and under; and $10 for kids 6-11. All sales at the Tethered Balloon Ride tent. Weather permitting.

Untethered balloon rides are $250 per person, weather permitting.

Please visit havasuballoonfestival.com and the Havasu Balloon Festival App on your phone for a complete schedule and parking information.

PARKING AND SITE MAPS: 

Shuttles are free!

2024 Havasu Balloon Festival Parking Map

2024 Havasu Balloon Fest Map

2024 Havasu Balloon Festival Special Shapes: 

Tiny the Fire Dog
Pilot- Henry Rosenbaum, Virgina
https://tinythefiredog.com/
Photo courtesy Gary Moore

Mango the Seahorse
Pilot- Jacob Little, Arizona
https://www.facebook.com/jacob.little.1848
Photo courtesy Gary Moore

Bandit (Raccoon)
Pilot – Diane Karlsson, Texas
https://www.facebook.com/justpins/about/
photo courtesy Gary Moore

Busby the Royal Guard
Pilot- Paul Burrows, U.K. Pilot
photo courtesy Gary Moore
https://www.facebook.com/BallooningUK

Speedy
Pilot- Earl Buzzard, Colorado
Photo courtesy Gary Moore

Lawrence the Bear “Yogi”
Pilot- Tom Stienbock, Kentucky
https://www.facebook.com/cartoonhotairballoons/?ref=embed_page
Photo courtesy Gary Moore

Joto (Green Elephant Brazilian cartoon Character)
Pilot Luiz Paulo Gnecco Rodrigues De Assis, Brazil
https://www.facebook.com/luizpaulo.assis.3
Photo courtesy Gary Moore

First in Flight (represents the first balloon flight with Sheep, Rooster, Duck)
Pilot- Scott Griswold, New York
https://www.facebook.com/scott.griswool.718
Photo courtesy Gary Moore

Elvis
Pilot- Debby Young, New Mexico
https://www.facebook.com/dy2fly
Photo courtesy Gary Moore

5k Information

Field events are scheduled with activities, including paper balloons, for all ages. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene