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Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival

Join OWA and the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce for the 22nd Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival April 30th - May 2nd!

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April 30th - May 2nd, 2026

The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival at OWA Parks & Resort benefits the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce and is presented by Columbia Southern University.

Named as the 2025 Signature Events winner from the Southeastern Tourism Society and 2021 Event of the Year by the Alabama Tourism Department, this all-ages hot air balloon festival is free-to-enter with a variety of activities and entertainment to keep your imagination soaring. The festival features daily live music and entertainment, arts and crafts displays, and balloon glows.

This year’s event will feature 49 balloons with pilots from across the country! Catch the Balloon Glow each evening at dusk (weather and wind permitting) and cap off Friday and Saturday night with our breathtaking Drone Show, a dazzling finale you won’t want to miss!

Interested becoming a Vendor? Apply below!

Check out the full schedule of events and rules: 

Full Schedule

Schedule of Events & Map:

Thursday, April 30th: Balloon Glow Kickoff Event

4:00 pm – 9:30 pm, festival open with food & retail vendors, and arts & crafts vendors throughout Downtown OWA and the Festival Grounds

  • Kids Activities
  • Caricature Drawings by Lash LeRoux
  • Live Chainsaw Carving by Beneath the Bark
  • Disc-Connected K9 Frisbee Dog Show
  • 4:30 – 6:30 pm:  Live music by Yeah Probably on OWA Island
  • 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Live music by Justin Jeansonne on OWA Island
  • 8:30 pm: Balloon Glow (weather & wind permitting)
Friday, May 1st: Festival Open

4:00 pm – 9:30 pm, festival open with food & retail vendors, and arts & crafts vendors throughout Downtown OWA and the Festival Grounds

  • Kids Activities
  • Caricature Drawings by Lash LeRoux
  • Live Chainsaw Carving by Beneath the Bark
  • Disc-Connected K9 Frisbee Dog Show
  • Interactive Hot Air Balloon Display (weather & wind permitting)
  • Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo Meet & Greet Tent
  • 5:30 – 7:00 pm: Live music by Renee Amelia on OWA Island
  • 7:30 pm – 9:15 pm: Live music by The M-80s on OWA Island
  • 8:30 pm: Hot Air Balloon Glow & Tethered Rides (weather & wind permitting)
  • 9:15 pm – 9:30 pm: Drone Show on the Festival Grounds | Check out all the details: Drone Show
Saturday, May 2nd: Festival Open

10:00 am – 9:30 pm, festival open with food & retail vendors, and arts & crafts vendors throughout Downtown OWA and the Festival Grounds

  • Kids Activities
  • Caricature Drawings by Lash LeRoux
  • Live Chainsaw Carving by Beneath the Bark
  • Disc-Connected K9 Frisbee Dog Show
  • Interactive Hot Air Balloon Display
  • Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo Meet & Greet Tent
  • 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm: PCI Pow Wow
  • 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Live music by Symone French on OWA Island
  • 4:30 – 6:30 pm:  Live music by JB Dyess Trio on OWA Island
  • 7:00 pm – 9:15pm: Live music by The Molly Ringwald’s on OWA Island
  • 7:30 pm: Hot Air Balloon Glow & Tethered rides (weather & wind permitting)
  • 9:15 pm – 9:30 pm: Drone Show on the Festival Grounds | Check out all the details: Drone Show

April 30th - May 2nd, 2026

Full Schedule

Festival Map

Drone Show