Tickets
2026 CAROLINA BALLOONFEST TICKET & PARKING UPDATE
We're incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support of this year's Carolina BalloonFest!
Online ticket sales for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are officially closed, and all parking is SOLD OUT.
With the parking at capacity, admission at the gate is not guaranteed. We strongly encourage anyone without a previously purchased ticket to plan ahead and join us in 2027 rather than travel to the festival without a ticket.
Thank you for your understanding and for making this year's event such a success!
General Admission Tickets
FRIDAY: (SOLD OUT)
Adult Ticket = $15
Child Ticket (ages 7-12) = $10
SATURDAY: (SOLD OUT)
Adult Ticket = $25
Child Ticket (ages 7-12) = $10
SUNDAY: (SOLD OUT)
Adult Ticket = $20
Child Ticket (ages 7-12) = $10
WEEKEND PASS: (SOLD OUT)
Access to the festival on all 3 days - Friday, Saturday & Sunday admission.
Weekend Adult Pass = $50
Weekend Child Pass (ages 7-12) = $25
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Children 6 and under are FREE and do not require an admission ticket for entry.
Balloon rides are not included with your general admission ticket.
Tether rides will be available during the festival for $20 per person (first come, first served - no reservations for this attraction).
If you're interested in Booking a Ride in advance, those are available for $400 per person and can be booked directly through our participating pilots.
Hot air balloons are not on display all day. For the best chance to see balloons in flight, we recommend arriving early and staying late. Be sure to check the event schedule for planned launch windows and weather-dependent activities.
For more details to help you plan your visit, don’t forget to check out our Know Before You Go page.
IMPORTANT TICKET INFORMATION
Advance ticket pricing is available through 11:59 PM on Thursday, October 15, 2026, while supplies last. Please note that online tickets for select days have already sold out.
After this deadline, online ticket sales will close. A very limited number of tickets may be available at the gate, subject to capacity, but gate admission is NOT guaranteed. Adult admission prices will increase by $5 on event days.
IMPORTANT: All on-site parking is SOLD OUT, and festival admission is extremely limited.
If you do not already have tickets, we strongly discourage traveling to the festival. Guests without previously purchased tickets should not expect to gain admission, even if they arrive at the gate. Taking a ride share or arranging alternative transportation does not guarantee entry.
To avoid unnecessary travel and disappointment, we strongly encourage anyone without tickets to make plans to join us in 2027 instead.
We sincerely appreciate the overwhelming support and understanding as we prepare for this year's festival!
RV Camping
RV fee includes 2 Weekend Passes (a $100 value) good for all 3 days at the festival. If you have additional campers that you would like to purchase admission tickets for, please add those to your cart now. Additional tickets available in advance (online) or at the gate.
East Lower Lot RV (SOLD OUT)= $300 (Not recommended for RV Travel Trailers & 5th Wheel units larger than 35’ and Class A Motor Coaches)
East Upper Lot RV (SOLD OUT)= $300 (Recommended for Class A motor coaches and RV Travel Trailers & 5th Wheel units larger than 35’)
Premium Paved RV (SOLD OUT) = $350 (Recommended for Class A motor coaches and RV Travel Trailers & 5th Wheel units larger than 35’. To enhance your experience, we also provide a free golf cart shuttle service from the Premium Paved RV area directly to the main gate for your convenience.)
IMPORTANT NOTES:
For more details, please visit the RV Camping page on our website for frequently asked questions.
VIP Tent Access
You must add Weekend Pass to your cart in order to view the VIP Tent Access option. This includes meals/beverages listed below:
• Premier covered seating for patrons to enjoy the Main Stage entertainment, balloon ascensions & nightly balloon glow
• Access to premium bathrooms
• Catered meals all 3 days of the festival
• Friday dinner
• Saturday breakfast, lunch & dinner
• Sunday breakfast & lunch
• Unlimited coffee & non-alcoholic beverages
• Beer & Wine (limitations apply)
VIP Tent Access (Adult) = $175 (SOLD OUT)
VIP Tent Access (Child 7-12) = $35 (SOLD OUT)
Parking
Learn more about parking options here!
Park & Ride = FREE off-site parking with complimentary shuttle service to and from the festival
General Parking = $15 (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday only)
Premier Parking = $25 (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday only)
Handicap Parking = FREE - Handicap placard is required for entry into the on-site parking.
Motorcycle Parking = FREE
IMPORTANT PARKING INFORMATION: If you have not already purchased an on-site parking pass with your advance online admission tickets, your only transportation options are Park & Ride or Ride Share. Additional on-site parking passes will not be available for purchase at the gate. Our Park & Ride service provides complimentary shuttle transportation to and from the festival. We strongly encourage all guests to plan ahead and arrive early to make the most of their festival experience!
If you experience difficulty completing your ticket purchase, please email info@carolinaballoonfest.com or call (704) 495-6735
