Schedule of Events:

Friday, August 26 - Centennial Park

Our Festival kicks off in Centennial Park at Noon on Friday, August 26 with a FREE performance by Magician Jared Furnau!  This will be followed by Jared making balloon animals for kids!  There will be vendors, food, Farmer’s Market and Kid activities in Centennial Park, ending with a free concert by Wild Blue from 6.30 – 8:30 pm.

12 NOON: Free Magic Show with Magician Jared Furnau and Balloon Animals for Kids.
Noon – 8:00 pm: Vendor Market
1 – 4.30 pm: Kid Activities
4.30 – 6.30 pm: Farmers Market
6.30 – 8.30 pm: Live Performance by Wild Blue

Saturday, August 27, 2022

Saturday will see the 30 balloons launch from Hot Springs Municipal Airport (weather permitting), special guests DARTH VADER and YODA will be present. Bring your lawn chair or picnic blanket as bleacher seating is limited.  The Hot Springs Rotary Club will be selling muffins and coffee out at the airport. Don’t forget to buy your Official festival T-Shirt! Followed by more all-day fun in Hot Springs, including a Walk-In Balloon and Fun Zone at The Mammoth Site! Centennial Park activities kick off with the SHRec Fun Run and breakfast. Centennial Park will feature giant Inflatables, obstacle courses, bouncy houses, Vendors, Food and Live Music!  Look for incredible deals and specials throughout Hot Springs at our local Merchants.

Saturday Night features the “Glow around Town” with the incredible spectacle of glowing balloons at The Mammoth Site, Centennial Park, Butler Park and the State Veterans Home. The POW/MIA and Stars and Stripes balloons will glow at the Michael J. Fitzmaurice State Veterans Home and don’t miss the special guest balloons YODA and DARTH VADER who will glow at Butler Park! 

Following the launch, head into Hot Springs for a day of fun!

11 am - 2pm: ACE HARDWARE will have hot sauce tasting, kid's crafts and raffles going on out front!

THE MAMMOTH SITE

9 am – 11 am: Walk-in Balloon        
9 am – 6 pm: Mammoth Site Fun Zone!                

Mammoth Site is also a “Glow Around Town” Location at dusk

CENTENNIAL PARK

8 am: Breakfast in Centennial Park
8:30 am: SHRec Fun Run and Breakfast
8 am – 6 pm: Vendor Market and Live Music
8 am – 6 pm: KID ZONE featuring Giant Inflatables and obstacle course and games.

Centennial Park is also a “Glow Around Town” Location at dusk

BUTLER PARK

From 6 pm onwards, refreshments will be available for purchase while people arrive to settle in at Butler Park to prepare for the Glow!

Special Guests DARTH VADER & YODA will glow at Butler Park.

6pm - 8pm: Book Barn Open at the Hot Springs Public Library

MICHAEL J. FITZMAURICE SD STATE VETERANS HOME

POW/MIA Balloon and Red, White & Pooh balloons, will glow at the State Veterans home.

ALL BALLOON RELATED ACTIVITIES ARE WEATHER PERMITTING

ONLY UTILIZE LEGAL PARKING AREAS.

Do not park on Highways!

Sunday, August 28, 2022

Weather permitting, the balloons will launch from Hot Springs Municipal Airport around 6 am. 

4 pm: Pioneer Museum will host their Cemetery Walk at Evergreen Cemetery

Sat Aug 27th and Sun Aug 28th at 6:00 AM - Balloons Launch from Hot Springs Airport

WHEN TO ARRIVE: We recommend arriving at the Hot Springs Municipal Airport (located at 27858 US-385, visit our “Get Here” page for directions) around 5:00 AM to get parked and find a comfortable spot to see the balloons. There are parking spots available for handicap - please speak with one of the traffic guides to reach them.  Please follow all traffic directions for your safety.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?: The weather is pretty chilly at this early an hour in the morning, even in late summer, so a light jacket may be recommended. Many folks bring blankets to sit on on the grass. Feel free to bring your own seating (e.g. folding camping chairs). Being so close to a large body of water like Angostura Reservoir, we would also recommend bug spray. You should bring your own water bottles so you stay hydrated, we just ask that what you bring with you, you take out. And of course, don’t forget your camera or smartphone! The balloons are an absolutely beautiful sight as the sun rises. Please use the hashtag #FallRiverBalloonFest in any posts you share out!

CAN WE APPROACH THE BALLOONS & PILOTS?: You may approach the balloons, we are asking that you are mindful and aware of ropes, fans, and equipment. Please listen to the instructions of the Pilots and Crew. Be sure to clear the area as the balloons deflate.

WHEN WILL THE BALLOONS LAUNCH?: Balloon pilots have a meeting shortly before the scheduled launch to gauge the weather. There’s a lot of science that goes into launching, and if the winds are too strong, if it’s raining, or they feel there’s any danger, the balloons may not launch. But if they do (and they usually do!) they will begin inflation around 6:00 AM.

DO THE BALLOONS LAND AT THE AIRPORT?: No, hot air balloons do not fly back to the airport - they go where the wind takes them, and the pilot lands in a safe location. If you arrive late expecting to see the balloons, you may be disappointed, and we don’t want that!

Sat Aug 27th at 7:30 PM -  “Glow Around Town”

Join the “Glow Around Town”, where our 30+ pilots will group into small pods of balloons and light up throughout our town. Locations will be Butler Park, Centennial Park, The Mammoth Site, and the Michael J. Fitzmaurice State Veterans Home.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?: While we are working to provide some additional lighting this year, there will be limited or no illumination at many of the Glow Around Town locations after the shows are done, so we strongly recommend that you bring a flashlight for yourself. After dusk, it may be quite cool in the evening, so we recommend a light jacket. There may be limited concessions, so we also strongly recommend bringing your own water bottles and bug spray. Please note, alcoholic beverages may not permitted at participating businesses and locations - please do not bring alcohol to the Festival.

CAN WE APPROACH THE BALLOONS?: You may approach the balloons, we are asking that you are mindful and aware of ropes, fans, and equipment. Please listen to the instructions of the Pilots and Crew. Be sure to clear the area as the balloons deflate.  We cannot overstate the importance of bringing a flashlight to the Night Glow so the pilots and crew are able to see you in the darkness.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF THE “GLOW AROUND TOWN” HAS BEEN CANCELLED?: Please keep an eye on the Fall River Hot Air Balloon Festival Facebook page, Facebook.com/FallRiverHotAirBalloonFestival, for updates on the day of the festival for any changes to our schedule, including cancellations or postponements.

Date: August 26th - 28th 2022

Locations: 

Centennial Park -  N River St, Hot Springs, SD 57747

The Mammoth Site - 1800 US-18 BYP, Hot Springs, SD 57747

Butler Park - Between S. 11th and S. 14th Streets, Hot Springs, SD 57747

Hot Springs Airport - 27858 US-385, Hot Springs, SD 57747

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