Suncook Valley Rotary Hot Air Balloon Rally 2024 in New Hampshire

The Suncook Valley Rotary Club has been organizing and hosting the Hot Air Balloon Rally every year since 1981. The Balloon Fest, also known Pittsfield Balloon Rally and Pittsfield Rotary Hot Air Balloon Festival, takes place on Drake Field in Pittsfield, NH, on the first full weekend in August. The program offers lots of activities from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning.

Suncook Valley Rotary Hot Air Balloon Rally Entertainment

The festival gathers visitors from all across New England. The three-day event promises multiple hot air balloon launches: once on Friday, twice on Saturday, and once on Sunday. All the flights are weather permitting, with the wind being the key factor. When the weather conditions are perfect, hot air balloons are able to “dip” into the Suncook River. On Friday and Saturday, after sunset, balloon night glows mesmerize the festival-goers. Fireworks light up the skies on Saturday night following the night glow.

The annual program features a specialty-shaped balloon, tethered balloon rides, helicopter rides, and a walk-through balloon. Other activities include midway carnival rides, dog demonstrations by Inspire K9’s Training Center, a Touch A Truck/Meet a Mascot event, the Anything That Floats River Raft Regatta, Midway Carnival Rides, and a Corn Hole Tournament.

Hot Air Balloon Rally Schedule

Helicopter Rides take place on August 2 from 3 pm to 7:30 pm and on August 3 from 12 pm to 7:30 pm; Midway Carnival Rides on August 2 from 3 pm to 10 pm and on August 3 at 11 am–10 pm; Silly Solutions balloon performance by Mr. Joe on August 2 from 4 pm–6 pm; Rotary Pancake & Egg Breakfast on August 3 at 6 am; Sunrise/Balloon Rise Yoga Flow w/Powerful You Yoga on August 3 at 6 am; Touch a Truck & Meet a Mascot on August 3 from 9 am to 12 pm; Teddy Bear Tethering on August 3 from 9 am to 12:00 pm, and Craft Fair runs August 3 from 10 am–7 pm.

The Balloon Rally is the Rotary Club’s major fundraiser of the year. The event is designed to provide a weekend of affordable family fun in the Suncook Valley area and beyond. The money raised by the rally and other club events throughout the year is reinvested within the communities to support several causes.