Each year it seems The Villages Balloon Festival gets bigger and bigger! This year the event is going to be spectacular! If you have never been to the annual villages community balloon festival you are in for a treat. Below you will find the schedule explaining a little bit about this fun family event, happening Friday and Saturday, February 3rd and 4th, at The Villages Polo Grounds!

You will want to show up as early as you can on Friday especially if you want a seat for the evening entertainment that includes The Hooligans. Gates open at 2:30pm. Live music begins from 3-5pm while Static Balloons, Pilot Meet and Greet and Tethered rides will be ongoing from 4-6pm. There is a live vendor and car show that begins each day at 2:30pm.

The car show is always fun and you should absolutely check out what kind of cool hot rods and vintage cars show up. There is always something to see and do. Make sure to ask plenty of questions because everyone is always willing to explain what does what. The best part is learning about how these aircraft work. The pilots are highly knowledgable and will teach you how the balloons inflate as well as how they are controlled.

A Tethered Flight means you won’t be going side to side but mostly up. The Balloon is tethered to the ground to prevent the balloon and yourselves from flying too far from the ground. The flight takes you up so you can see around the grounds and it also provides excellent photo opportunities. You get to feel what a takeoff and landing feels like in these majestic balloons. The tethered balloon rides are available on a first come first serve basis which is why we recommend getting there as early as you can to book a ride.

If you have never had the opportunity to see a real polo match your missing out! Polo happens from 5-6pm on Friday and Saturday! The sheer power of the horses running and the sound they make is unlike anything you have ever experienced. It’s such a beautiful sport played by some of the best in the world and you have the opportunity to take in an exhibition as the light begins to dim and the real party starts!

This is a band that you won’t want to miss! The Hooligans bring some of the best British rock invasion hits back to life. They play in Disney World and occasionally have shows in The Villages and the surrounding communities. Let me tell you this is one of the best local bands you will see. They are energetic and sound incredible. We highly suggest you check them out if you can.

Saturday is an even bigger day! There is a balloon competition from 7:30am – 9:00am. As the sun comes up it’s one of the best moments you will witness as these beautiful balloons take flight. Once again Live Entertainment will be on stage from 3-5pm. The Static Balloons and Pilot Meet and Greet along with Tethered Rides will be ongoing from 4-6pm. There is another Polo Exhibition from 5-6pm and the evening wraps up with something you won’t want to miss.

The main event happens Friday & Saturday night as the balloons light up the night sky! You will get to see the pilots hit the throttle and power the balloons up as massive fireballs fill the night sky. The Glow will last approximately one hour and will be happening in the 6-8pm window.

Highway To Hell – The Ultimate AC/DC Tribute Band will close out the evening as they play some of the greatest 80’s rock hits by one of the best rock bands ever to grace the stage. This band brings the crowd to life and if you close your eyes you will feel like your at an AC/DC concert! They are fantastic and you will not want to miss it!

Alright you want to know all the secrets and ins and outs of doing the Balloon Festival successfully? Lets take a look at how you can enjoy yourself to the fullest! Down below take a look at our mock schedule for enjoying the best of what The Balloon Festival has to offer!

Overall, enjoy this event because it’s unique to the area. We enjoy it every year and we hope that you are able to get out and experience it for yourself!