At the Northampton Balloon Festival, attendees can experience a variety of attractions, including hot air balloons, a funfair, fireworks, balloon glows, live entertainment, reenactments, stunt shows, festival food and drinks, local traders, and a craft tent.
Line-up & Activities
Prepare for three action-packed days as the Northampton Balloon Festival returns to The Racecourse, featuring two stages and a variety of attractions. Witness thrilling performances, including American Civil War reenactments, RPM Bike Display Team shows, Stannage International Stunt Shows, and extreme equine stunt acts. Watch the hot air balloon tethering and launches (weather permitting), and enjoy the mesmerizing night glow and fireworks finale.
Explore additional attractions such as Punch & Judy, face painting, ferret racing, circus workshop, birds of prey, funfair, trade & charity stalls, craft marquee, Northampton Town Council community marquee, festival food, and bars.
Balloon flights
Balloon flights at the Northampton Balloon Festival usually occur at sunrise and sunset. Scheduled balloon launches are planned between 6 pm and 7:30 pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. Additionally, there will be morning ascents on Saturday and Sunday (no on Friday) between 6 am and 7:30 am. Please note that balloons can only fly in specific weather conditions, prioritizing the safety of pilots and guests. Therefore, all balloon activities are subject to weather permitting. Attendance for the morning ascents is free.
Tickets & Parking
Tickets for the Northampton Balloon Festival can be purchased online on the official website, with booking fees applicable for both adults and children. Alternatively, tickets can be bought at the gate, priced at £4 for adults and £3 for children. Advanced discount tickets are also available online. Early bird fast-track tickets are priced at £2.50 plus booking fees. Children under 1 meter tall can enter for free. Parking is available at £5 for the day, although attendees are encouraged to consider using public transport. The festival runs from 12:00 to 22:30 daily.
