Taking a hot air balloon ride is one of those bucket list activities that most people never really get a chance to check off their list, so for those adventurous souls out there dying to try it, now’s your chance!
This May, on Friday, May 16th and Saturday, May 17th, the Wind Vineyards Hot Air Balloon Festival is set to return to the vineyard based in Tappahannock, Virginia, which is around 2.5 hours south of the District.
Everything you need to know about the inaugural Wind Vineyards Hot Air Balloon Festival
The hot air balloon festival is going to be the first-ever hosted by Wind Vineyards at Laurel Grove in Tappahannock, Virginia.
The exact dates of the two-day event are May 16th (Friday) and 17th (Saturday), and the event is slated to take place “rain or shine”.
On the 16th, gates will open at 3 pm and the winery will remain open until 10 pm, and on the 17th, the gates will open at 2 pm until the winery closes at 10 pm.
Event schedule for Friday, May 16th
On Friday, the festivities start at 3 pm when the gate officially opens for attendees, so here are a few of the expected highlights:
- Tethered balloon rides are planned to take place between 4 and 8 pm (weather permitting).
- Live music performances from 2:30 – 5:30 pm and 6 – 9 pm (Exit 38).
- Monster truck rides.
- Kid activities.
- Food trucks.
- Full selection of wines, sangria, wine slushies, hard ciders, and non-alcoholic options.
- Vendor fair.
- GLOW exhibit after sunset (Hot air balloon pilots will light up their burners, creating a synchronized light display).
Event schedule for Saturday, May 17th
On Saturday, the fun will shift over to the ‘festival side’ of the vineyard, and while the festival’s main activities will start at 2 pm, privately chartered hot air balloon rides will take off shortly after sunrise.
Here are a few things you can expect to experience on day two of the festival:
- Chartered hot air balloon flights (weather permitting).
- Tethered balloon rides are planned to take place between 4 and 8 pm (weather permitting).
- Monster truck rides.
- Live music performances from 2:30 – 5:30 pm (Julius Ray Pittman’s Ray Pittman Project) and 6 – 9 pm (Sweet Justice).
- Kid activities.
- Hay rides, pony rides, and potentially other farm animals
- Food trucks.
- Full selection of wines, sangria, wine slushies, hard ciders, and non-alcoholic options.
- Vendor fair.
- GLOW exhibit after sunset (Hot air balloon pilots will light up their burners, creating a synchronized light display).
How to get tickets
Tickets are available online for each day, but if the festival is not sold out by the event date, tickets will be available for purchase with cash at the gate.
Here is how the pricing breaks down for festival tickets:
- Friday General Admission – $30 per person
- Friday Kids General Admission (Ages 3-10) – $23 per person
- Saturday General Admission – $30 per person
- Saturday Kids General Admission (Ages 3-10) – $23 per person
- Saturday VIP Tent w/ 6 Chairs (includes 6 general admission tickets) – $400
Here is how pricing breaks down for hot air balloon rides (booking and payment will be handled with the pilot directly):
- Tethered balloon rides – $20 per person.
- These rides last a few minutes and only reach around 25-30 feet in the air (they are anchored to the ground). All ages are welcome.
- Chartered balloon rides – $350 per person.
- These rides are much more personal and intimate, typically only allowing 2-4 passengers (depending on the aircraft), and usually lasting around an hour in the air.
- Application must be made in advance to book a chartered hot air balloon ride – you can submit your application here.