Take to the air! The West Midlands is getting a brand new hot air balloon festival, so you can rise above the clouds this spring. Worcester Balloon Festival prepares to paint skies with a palette of hot air balloons, of all shapes and sizes, near Birmingham when it launches this May.
Taking place at Worcester Racecourse (May 12 & 13), more than 40 balloons are so far signed up to appear. While visitors can also expect fireworks, circus workshops, a funfair, street food and drink stands, and other live entertainment too.
The hot air balloon festival will open on Friday at 4pm, with an evening ascent followed by a hot air balloon “night glow”. This will see the hot air balloons, choreographed to music, illuminating the night sky with their burners. The evening will finish with a fireworks display.
Saturday will begin early with a balloon launch at 6am, but gates for the main event won’t open until 11am. Alongside bags of entertainment, visitors will also be able to get up close with the hot air balloons. You can even pre-book a balloon flight with Vista Balloon too. Worcester Balloon Festival will end with a final mass balloon ascent and fireworks display.
Of course anyone used to hot air balloons will know, all balloon displays are dependent on the weather. Even the legendary Bristol International Balloon Fiesta experienced numerous disruptions in 2022 due to last year’s heatwave.
Less than an hour’s drive from Birmingham, Worcester Balloon Festival is the first of its kind in the city. But those of you looking for somewhere a little closer to home might consider waiting until August for the Telford Balloon Fiesta instead.
Tickets for Worcester Balloon Festival are on sale here.