9 Wonderful Hot Air Balloon Festivals in Colorado You Need to Check Out

Hot air balloon festivals in Colorado are just so natural. With the Centennial State being at such a high altitude, it's perfect for sending hot air balloons into the skies.

When you see them rise up and fill up the sky, their majestic-ness can take your breath away. Bring you camera and your family to one of the eight that we’ve selected for you to check out.

Balloon pilots from across the country and the world will be flying their "airships" at Colorado hot air balloon events in 2024. Chilly mornings with coffee and and "glows" at night are a part of what makes living in Colorado great.

According to HotAirExpeditions.com, you only have to be 14 years old to obtain a student balloon pilot's license. You wouldn't be able to carry any passengers, but still, that would be very fun at 14; considering you can't even get a driver's permit that young.

Those wonderful hot air balloons that you see with the gondolas that hold the pilot and four passengers can run $35,000 to more than $45,000. Add in the hours of travel and setup time, you know that these pilots really love hot air ballooning.

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Let's take a look at nine hot air balloon festivals and rallies coming to Colorado in 2024.

• Telluride Balloon Festival: May 31 - June 2, 2024

Telluride is a town that is hard to not absolutely love, even when it isn't the dead of winter. The Telluride Balloon Festival is a great time to visit.

• Frederick in Flight: June 21 - June 23, 2024

The small town of Frederick has been putting on their hot air balloon event for over a dozen years. Saturday at Frederick in Flight will include a great town party.

• Eerie Hot Air Balloon Launch: July 12 -14, 2024

Once held at the same time, Eerie, Colorado, now holds their town fair and their balloon launch on separate days. It's another great small Colorado town that loves hosting their own hot air balloon launch.

• Yampa Valley Balloon Rodeo: July 26-28, 2024

Once known as the Steamboat Balloon Rodeo, this event is one to behold; the Yampa Valley is wonderful to see without hot air balloons, when they throw their Yampa Valley Balloon Rodeo, it's magical.

• Moffat County Balloon Festival: August 2 - 4, 2024

This hot air balloon festival in Craig, Colorado, stands out for not only the balloons, but concerts, food, a 5K, and the cardboard boats regatta. The Moffat County Balloon Festival is one for the bucket list.

• Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off: August 31 - September 1, 2024

For nearly 50 years Colorado Springs has been holding one of the premiere hot air balloon festivals in the country. They'll have drone shows, a 5K, bands, a beer garden, skydive jumpers and more at the Labor Day Lift Off.

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• Windsor's 'Picture the Sky' Hot Air Balloon Rally: August 31 - September 1, 2024

One great event that unofficially wraps up the summer, is the Windsor Harvest Festival. The weekend includes a parade, a pie eating contest, live bands and the great "Picture the Sky" Balloon Rally.

• Aims Community College 'Great Aardvark Embark:' September 28, 2024

Fall will be underway when Aims Community College's Greeley campus holds its seventh annual hot air balloon festival. The morning will feature around eight balloons and their tradition breakfast burritos and coffee.