☰ Balloons Over Carroll County
Home 5K RUN/WALK Admission Ticket Book A Flight Meet the Pilots Contact Us Craft Vendor App Sponsor App
Home 5K Run/Walk Admission Ticket Book A Flight Meet the Pilots Contact Us Crafter App. Sponsor App.



Happy 4th of July, America!
Hang in there!
We will Survive and be Stronger!
And just in time for you and your family to be a part of
A Huge Celebration of Life
Take our quick Survey, please.

As Maryland pandemic cases continue to subside, do you thing people will be excited about coming to our Festival?

Yes:
No:

THE CARROLL COUNTY BALLOON FESTIVAL
August 29-30, 2020
Location: Carroll County Agriculture Center
706 Agriculture Center Drive, Westminster, MD 21157
Presented by Friendship Hot Air Balloon Co.


Our Maryland Hot Air Balloon Festivals from the Past

Maryland Friends preparing to launch in 2019
Festivals Past - Turf Valley Resort
Maryland Festivals Past- Turf Valley
Maryland Festivals Past- Balloon Glow
Maryland Festivals Past- Spectators up close
Festivals Past- Spectators enjoying the action
Maryland Festivals Past
Maryland Festivals Past
Maryland Festivals Past
Festivals - Drone captures Many Spectators
gathered around the "Hot Air Balloon Pit"
Maryland Festivals Past-Getting it Hot!

Guess what The Dreamstar Balloon Team did NOW!
We invited 20 balloon pilot friends from all parts of the country to come to town and participate in the First Annual Balloon Festival right here in Carroll County Maryland.
We met many of our Carroll County Residents over the years when landing in your "backyard" and now we want to celebrate ballooning with you on a Grand Scale.
So Carroll County GET READY!


Festival Activities will include:
-- Three mass ascension flights of up to 15 hot air balloons
-- Special Shape Balloons will join in the fun
-- Passenger balloon flights - BOOK your FLIGHT NOW!
-- Tethered balloon rides
-- Walkabout balloon
-- Balloon Training Demonstration
-- Kids Zone
-- Entertainment: featuring The Fabulous Hubcaps Band
-- Delicious Foods from 15 Food Vendors
-- Specialty Crafts from 60 crafters
-- Sponsors - we cannot do without!



--RUNNERS get READY for the '5K RUN/WALK AMONG BALLOONS' planned for Sunday Morning. Details and registration will be available July 6th. GET READY!
To Benefit


Sponsored by:



Daily Admission Fees:
Adult General Admission Tickets are:
-- $20 for Adults and Children 12 years and older.

Child General Admission Tickets are:
-- $5 for Children 6 to 12 years old.
-- Free for Children under 6 years old

EARLYBIRD Discount Tickets - ON SALE NOW! click on link above.


IN THE NEWS:
A Tom Gordon Opinion Carroll County Times -- June 27, 2020

Major Sponsor:


Gold Sponsors:



Media Partners



Lodging Headquarters

AND backup
THE BOSTON INN



HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHTS:

Come fly with us in one of our beautiful balloons. $240 per person for a 30-45 minute balloon flight. Three mass ascension flights are scheduled: Saturday 6PM, Sunday 6AM and Sunday 6PM. Passengers will be booked in advance. Use link at the top of page. We need an early commitment on who wants to fly. Experience the Wonder!

>> BALLOON FLIGHT BOOKING:--
Passenger may Book Your Flight NOW! The flight fee is $240 per person for a 30-45 minute balloon flight. Use link at top pf page.
AND
>> Volunteer Crew Registration will be available soon. What a thrill!!

TETHERED BALLOON RIDES:

A hot air balloon, tethered to the ground, will offer rides ($20 adults and $10 children under 12) up to 60 feet in the air for up to 5 minutes. No advanced booking is required.

WALKABOUT BALLOON:
Welcome Kids and Adults!
 
A non airworthy hot air balloon will be partially inflated on the ground. Children and adults will be able to venture into the center of this colorful balloon ($3 children and adults). Pay on site.

BALLOON GLOW
So what is a balloon glow?

The hot air balloon festival event now known as a balloon glow was invented in Albuquerque in 1979, when local pilots inflated balloons on Christmas Eve night as a thank you to local residents. The sight of balloons lit from within at night like giant holiday ornaments is breathtaking, and glow events are now held all over the world.

>>KIDS ZONE - Visit the Zone


ENTERTAINMENT

SATURDAY:
DJ Entertainment by: Carlysle Entertainment
"IT'S NOT JUST MUSIC, IT'S THE WHOLE PARTY!"

SUNDAY at 3PM:
The Fabulous Hubcaps Band will appear live on our outdoor stage on Sunday afternoon.




Festival Attendance Guidelines:
You may not bring:
-- pets (service dogs are allowed)
-- coolers, bottles, cans or food
-- beach umbrellas
-- popup tents (shady spots are available)
You may bring:
-- lawn chairs
-- blankets

Custom Pins Specialist
The Pinlady



A Message from the Balloonmeister

What does 'WEATHER PERMITTING' mean?
FOR SAFE FLIGHT:
1. Winds on the surface should be less than 7 mph
2. Winds at 3000 feet should be forecasted to be less than 20 mph
3. Rain should not be in the forecast for the period of scheduled flight
4. A hot air balloon should not be in the air within 100 miles of a thunderstorm
5. Balloons launch only at sunrise and 1-3 hours before sunset
The most desirable flying conditions are good visibility, light winds and no precipitation
Final decision as to fly or not to fly is made 45 minutes before scheduled flight during the pilot briefing

-Ron Broderick, BallooningUSA.com



Balloon Training:


Kids and Adults will have an opportunity to participate in a hands on FREE demonstration of "HOW BALLOONS WORK". Scheduled from 2-3:30PM Saturday & Sunday. Lead pilot/instructor is Matt Hodgdon from Mt Airy MD.


>> OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS:
--- Our host hotels are: The Days Inn -- The Boston Inn

"For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return." -- Leonardo da Vinci

You are viewer #29500

Admission Ticket Info:
---PAYPAL Link to "Pay for Admission ticket":


Health DEPT - Temporary Foor Permit 3 forms required: #1 - #2 - #3