The Chester County Balloon Festival is the must attend event at New Garden Flying Field in Toughkenamon PA. Filled with activities on–the-ground and in-the-air, the festival provides family fun for all ages.
Celebrating our 12th year, the Chester County Balloon Festival is a must attend event providing family fun for all ages. Experience Chester County and the unique and historic Del Val Region from the ground up! The Chester County Balloon Festival is a non-profit organization with portions of the proceeds going to the Chester County Hero Fund and other local youth community groups.
The popularity of the Chester County Balloon Festival has experienced incredible growth the past few years. We will be returning to our new home at New Garden Flying Field in Toughkenamon, PA on June 22nd, 23rd, 24th 2018. The airport is located at 1235 Newark Road just off Highway 1, allowing visitors from all over Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and New York convenient access.
The expanded 3-day (Friday-Sunday) schedule highlights over 20+ hot air balloon taking flight twice per day, balloon glow featuring Special Shaped Balloon Rodeo, untethered and tethered balloon rides, and a walk-thru balloon. For a complete schedule of events, see the Festival Information page.
The ever popular Saturday Night Fireworks are back! Historically this is a crowd pleaser and we are very excited to have them back!
Schedule is subject to change, please come back to this page regularly for updated info.
On Saturday and Sunday morning during the Chester County Balloon Festival we plan on launching balloons starting at 5:30AM. Admission and parking is free. Be sure to arrive early so that you don’t miss the launch. Updates will begin at 5AM on Facebook.
Stop by the Wine and Beer Garden for an opportunity to try some of the craft beer industry’s best beer. The beer garden is located near the food trucks. Please refer to the festival schedule for wine and beer open times. Drinking age is 21. Must show Proof.
Harvest Ridge Winery is our Wine & Beer Garden Sponsor for 2017. Be sure to stop by their booth and sample their amazing wines!
Can you believe it? The first air voyage of any kind in the United States occurred right here in Philadelphia on January 9, 1793. A frenchman, Jean Pierre Blanchard brought his hydrogen balloon from France and departed from the large prison yard of the Walnut Street Penitentiary, just behind Independence Hall. His flight was witnessed by President George Washington. He flew south across the Delaware River and landed in New Jersey.
Read more about the guests that will be in attendance who will be giving talks on the history of ballooning and the 225th Anniversary celebration of America's First Flight in 2018! You can find their display in the vendor area by the tethered balloons at the Chester County Balloon Festival.
Read More : Aero Club of Pennsylvania Ballooning History DisplayAnnual RC plane demo presented by the Malchione Family.
Sponsored by the Future Aviator Camp instructor again this year, the Kids Zone is an interactive experience exhibit including flight simulators, remote control airplane simulators, aircraft riveting, fabric covering stations, paper airplane contests, and more.
Whether you are local or a visitor, we welcome you to be a tourist in our town – let the Festival show you around from a different angle. See the area from above floating with the wind in a hot air balloon; feel the wind on your face in an open cockpit plane; or do a fly by over a local attraction or historic town. Then plan a visit from the ground and discover the natural beauty, history, arts, antiques, mansions, and gardens of Southern Chester County. Explore the many tastes in the surrounding towns and dine at our farm to table restaurants and local craft breweries. Check out our many wineries by exploring the wine trail and come to rest at an historic Inn, farm stay or one of many elegantly appointed hotels
All three days at the festival we have bands play to keep you entertained. This year's entertainment includes Half Past Seven, Bob Croce & Tommy Froelich Trio.
On Sunday the Chester County Rescue Task Force will join us at the 11th Annual Chester County Hot Air Balloon Festival. The Chester County Rescue Task Force (CCRTF) was organized in 2009 at the direction of the Chester County Fire Chief’s Association to provide an organized technical rescue effort throughout Chester County. What is a “technical rescue”? A technical rescue is any situation that requires special tools or equipment, special techniques and special people with special training and experience. These situations may include heavy vehicle and machinery rescue, confined space rescue incidents, trench and excavation collapse or cave-in incidents, building collapses, swiftwater, ice and flood rescue scenes, mass transportation accidents, like train crashes or any man-made or natural disaster like tornadoes, hurricanes or explosions.