Balloon Glow

🎪 Festival Review:

📍 Quick Facts

• Venue & Location: High River
• Date Attended: July 19, 2025
• Admission Cost:  Free
• Crowd Care and Organization: Well Organized, especially considering the size

This event is nothing short of spellbinding.

I can’t begin to explain how thrilling it was to be just outside the barrier (about 100 feet away) as these majestic hot air balloons were being inflated. I know we’ve all seen pictures and videos, and you may even have seen them far up in the sky. It was hard to get your head around how massive they were up close…

But then to be allowed to walk amongst them, to hear and feel the heat of the burners as they blast hot air into the canopy…it was truly magical.

Let’s back up a bit and provide you with the information you need to take in this spectacle yourself.

The Balloon Glow is part of a five-day Balloon Festival where the skies become a breathtaking display of light, colour, and sound.

Every September, international pilots gather to launch colourful hot air balloons from Canada, the United States, and around the world. Weather permitting, the balloons lift off around sunrise (typically 7:00 AM) and late afternoon/early evening from designated local sites.  

It’s free to attend and watch the launches and evening glow; no tickets or entry fees are required. Bring the whole family and experience the magic of ballooning in the foothills of southern Alberta.

If you have never been to High River, it is a beautiful small town about 30 minutes south of Calgary. The emphasis is the ‘small’ part, as the normal population is about 15,000. During the Balloon Festival, and in particular the Balloon Glow, upwards of 15,000 attendees show up, effectively doubling the local population.

 On a regular sleepy Tuesday afternoon, you can expect to have no trouble parking; on this night, pack your patience, follow directions from the orange-vested helpers, and give yourself extra time. I promise you, it’s worth it.

This event has been going on for years, so the organizers have it down to a science. The inaugural event happened in September of 2013 and was launched to help lift community spirit and aid recovery after the devastating floods that happened in High River and much of Southern Alberta.

Tip: Bring cash for parking.

Shuttle Parking is available at two locations for $20. South pick-up is beside the Calgary Co-op on 12 Ave SW; north pick-up is at the NW entrance to the rodeo grounds off 498 Ave / Hwy 543. Shuttles run continuously throughout the evening; however, times will vary depending on traffic conditions. There are also ‘Park and Walk’ sites closer to the Balloon Glow site for $20 per vehicle.

Tip: Be prepared to stay parked until after the event wraps up. Once you enter the main glow site, driving out early is nearly impossible because of the heavy foot traffic and safety road closures.

Once you arrive at the Balloon Glow site, I recommend setting up a blanket or similar to stake out your spot outside the roped-off area. Once the balloons start to inflate, the excitement level will increase, and it’s great to have a front-row seat to watch the activities.

When you have your seating sorted, turn your attention to the many food vendors on site; it’s a great time to grab a snack and a drink while you wait for sunset. Before the glow begins, you can enjoy activities like dance performers, a DJ, and a walk-in balloon.

The walk-in balloon is a unique experience, where they partially inflate a balloon with large, powerful cold-air fans rather than the usual propane burners. This makes it safe for visitors to walk right inside the massive fabric structure where you can really see its scale from the inside out.

Keep in mind this event is weather-dependent; If the weather is calm, balloons are attached, and the fully lit-up balloons will glow like lanterns against the night sky. If it’s breezy, you’ll see only ‘candlesticks’ – just the burners and baskets lighting up the dark.

A half-hour before sunset, the taped-off area of the field starts to buzz with activity as pilots and their crews begin to inflate their balloons. Once they are inflated and secured, you must wait for the official ‘Go signal’; then it’s your chance to get up close and personal to the balloons and their crews.

As you wander under the gentle giants, take the time to chat with the crews; they love to share their stories and talk about their craft. Wander around the field taking in the scene – and the photo ops- and enjoy the energy of the crowd.

Tip: This is a crowded event; especially if you’ve got kids, pick a meeting place to reconnect in case you get separated.

The Balloon Glow is completely free to attend, and you don’t need tickets. The Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival happens at the Wallaceville site on Centre Street in High River, Alberta.

These festival events depend entirely on safe weather and wind conditions. Check the website for last-minute updates before heading out. 

Nothing can prepare you for the thrill of standing near the baskets, hearing (and feeling) the loud, sudden blasts of the propane burners. You will want to come back again, year after year, to experience it all over again.

Notes for improvement – Porta-potty lines are long. They are located at both ends of the field, but I’d suggest there should be more based on the crowd size.

📊 Scorecard

• Organization & Crowd Flow: 4.5/5
• Entertainment & Activities: 4/5
• Food & Vendor Variety: 5/5
• Ticket Value: 5/5
• ⭐ Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars