Baldwin County Alabama Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival

Just before dawn, when the air over south Baldwin County is still and cool, dozens of hot air balloons lift off a field in Foley and drift across the sky. That is the signature moment of the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, a free spring event that has become one of the most photographed gatherings on the Alabama coast.

The festival is built around two narrow windows of flight: the calm hours around sunrise and the calm hours around sunset, when winds are gentle enough to launch. Between those windows, the ground stays busy with arts and crafts vendors, food, live music, children’s activities, and — after dark — a balloon glow, when tethered balloons fire their burners and light up like lanterns against the night.

It is a festival that rewards patience. Balloon flights and glows depend entirely on the weather, so a visit works best when you keep your plans flexible and give yourself more than one chance to see the balloons in the air. When conditions cooperate, the sight of a field full of color lifting into the Gulf Coast morning is unforgettable.

Foley sits at the crossroads of a county that celebrates in every season. Our guide to the Baldwin County Alabama Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival covers the Eastern Shore’s spring art weekend, held in downtown Fairhope each March.

Balloon Festival at a Glance

These are the key details for planning a trip around the flights and glows.

Festival	Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival
County	Baldwin County, Alabama (seat: Bay Minette)
City	Foley, in south Baldwin County
Venue	OWA Parks & Resort, Foley
Timing	Late April into early May, Thursday–Saturday in recent years
Admission	Free
Balloons	Dozens of pilots from across the country
Flight times	Dawn and dusk, weather permitting
Highlights	Balloon launches, tethered rides, nightly balloon glows, live music, arts and crafts
Former site	Foley Soccer Complex; moved to OWA in 2021
Best for	Families, photographers, and anyone wanting a free coastal weekend

A Foley Tradition That Took Flight

The festival began as a local event at the Foley Soccer Complex, where it quickly became a beloved tradition for families and ballooning enthusiasts. For years it was a low-key, community-scale gathering built around a handful of pilots and a weekend of flights.

In 2021 the festival moved to OWA Parks & Resort, a large entertainment district in Foley with restaurants, shops, and attractions of its own. The new location gave the event room to grow, brought it closer to the coast’s visitor base, and made it easier to combine balloon watching with a full day out. The move elevated the festival into one of the region’s signature spring events.

Foley itself has long been a crossroads town. Sitting where U.S. 98 meets Highway 59, it is the gateway between the inland farms and the Gulf beaches, and it has grown quickly as the coast has developed. A festival that fills its sky each spring fits the town’s role as the practical hub of south Baldwin County.

How the Balloons Work

Flights at Dawn and Dusk

Hot air balloons need calm air, and calm air is rare in the middle of a warm day. That is why flights happen only in the first hours after sunrise and the last hours before dark, when the wind is steadiest and the temperature is kindest. Pilots inflate, launch, and drift with the breeze, then land nearby and pack up.

Because everything depends on the weather, the schedule is never guaranteed. A morning with too much wind means no flights, and the pilots will wait for a better window. Visitors who understand this in advance enjoy the festival far more — the balloons are a gift when they fly, not a promise.

The Balloon Glow

The evening glow is the festival’s most atmospheric event. Tethered balloons stay on the ground while their burners fire in sequence, lighting the envelopes from within like giant paper lanterns. It is a photographer’s dream and a favorite with children, and it usually follows the day’s live music. Like the flights, the glow is weather-dependent.

Tethered Rides and Meet-and-Greets

For visitors who want to rise a little without committing to a full flight, tethered rides lift a balloon a short way off the ground while secured by ropes. The festival also gives crowds a chance to meet the pilots, see the baskets and burners up close, and learn how a balloon is inflated and flown.

More Than Balloons

Arts, Crafts, and Vendors

Away from the launch field, the festival runs an arts and crafts market alongside retail and food vendors. The market is part of what makes the event a full day out rather than a single spectacle, and it draws makers and small businesses from across the Gulf Coast.

Live Music and Family Fun

Live music runs across the festival days, with local and regional performers on stage between the balloon activities. Children’s zones, lawn games, and hands-on activities keep younger visitors busy, and the OWA district adds restaurants, shopping, and rides of its own — some requiring separate tickets — for anyone who wants to extend the visit.

Planning Your Balloon Weekend

Getting to Foley and OWA

The festival grounds are on the south side of Foley at OWA, off the Foley Beach Express and a few minutes from Highway 59. Beach visitors reach it in a short drive north, while Mobile and Pensacola are each about an hour out. The resort layout means you can park once and walk the whole site.

Where to Stay

Foley has hotels close to OWA, and the Gulf beach towns of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are an easy drive away for anyone wanting to combine the festival with a beach stay. Spring is a popular season on the coast, so booking early is wise.

Parking, Admission, and Costs

Admission is free. Parking is available at the venue, and purchases — food, crafts, and optional activities such as amusement park entry — are separate. Because it is a free event, it makes an affordable family weekend.

Weather and What to Bring

Spring on the Gulf Coast is warm and pleasant, but mornings can be cool and the wind matters. Bring a light jacket for the dawn launch, a blanket or lawn chairs for the glow, sun protection for the day, and comfortable shoes for the grass. A camera, of course, is essential.

How to Time Your Visit

Friday evening is the easiest introduction: the glow and the music need no early alarm. Saturday rewards the early riser — arrive before sunrise for the morning launch, stay through the day for vendors and entertainment, then return for the evening glow. Sunday is a relaxed finale, best for a slower morning and one more chance at a flight if the weather has been uncooperative.

If you can only come for one window, choose a dawn launch for the light and the calm, or a dusk glow for the drama. Either way, build in a backup plan, because the balloons answer to the weather and not to the schedule.

Festivals to Pair With It

Spring is a busy season in Baldwin County, and the balloon festival sits in the middle of it:

Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival	Fairhope, third weekend in March, since 1953
Elberta Sausage Festival	Elberta, last Saturday in March
Strawberry Festival	Loxley, first Saturday in May, since 1988
Sea Oats Jazz & Arts Festival	Gulf Shores, first weekend in May, since 1981
Art-in-the-Park	Foley, second weekend in May

Practical Checklist

• Check the official schedule and weather forecast before you travel.
• Arrive before sunrise for a morning launch and before dusk for the glow.
• Bring a jacket, lawn chairs or a blanket, and a camera.
• Keep plans flexible — flights and glows depend on the wind.
• Carry cash for vendors and check ticket needs for OWA attractions.

Beyond the Balloons

The rest of a weekend here is easy to fill. Foley’s own downtown and parks sit close by, the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge offers a slower, wilder outing, and the beaches and boardwalks of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are a short drive south. Head inland and you trade the coast for Baldwin County’s farms and small towns.

Why the Festival Matters

A balloon festival is a rare thing: a free, family-friendly spectacle that costs little to attend and brings a community together around the sky. For Foley and south Baldwin County, it draws visitors at a shoulder-season moment, supports local vendors, and gives residents an event that has become a spring ritual. It also showcases the coast at its calmest — early morning, before the beach crowds arrive.

Where the Festival Happens

The festival takes place at OWA Parks & Resort in Foley, at the intersection of Highway 59 and the Foley Beach Express in south Baldwin County.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival?

It is held in late April into early May, typically across Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in recent years. Confirm the current dates with the official festival website.

Where is it held?

At OWA Parks & Resort in Foley, Alabama. Before 2021 it was held at the Foley Soccer Complex.

Is admission free?

Yes, admission is free. Food, crafts, and optional activities such as amusement park entry cost extra.

When do the balloons fly?

Flights happen around dawn and dusk, when winds are calmest. Times vary with the weather, and flights and glows can be cancelled if conditions are unsuitable.

What is a balloon glow?

It is an evening event where tethered balloons stay on the ground and fire their burners to light up from within, usually following live music. It is weather-dependent, like the flights.

Can I ride in a balloon?

Tethered rides are often available, lifting visitors a short distance off the ground. Full flights are arranged by pilots, and both depend on weather and availability.

Is it good for children?

Yes. The festival is free and family-friendly, with kids’ activities, lawn games, food, and the glow in the evening.

What is Baldwin County known for?

Foley grew up where the inland farm roads met the route to the beaches, and it still plays that middle role today. The county around it is known for seafood, shoreline, and a packed events calendar. At roughly 1,600 square miles, Baldwin is the largest county in Alabama and one of just two with Gulf frontage.

What to Expect Next Spring

The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival is an annual spring event and is expected to return to OWA in Foley, with its dates and lineup announced ahead of each season.

How often is the festival held?

Every year, in the spring. It has run for more than two decades and moved to OWA in 2021.

When is the next one?

The next edition is expected in late April or early May. The official website publishes the confirmed dates, schedule, and pilot lineup.

Will the dates change?

The spring window is consistent, but the exact days can shift year to year, and the weather can cancel individual flights or glows. Confirm the schedule before you travel.

Last updated: October 2026

The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival turns an ordinary spring weekend in Foley into something worth setting an alarm for. Come for the dawn launch or the evening glow, keep an eye on the wind, and let the sky over Baldwin County do the rest.