Carolina Balloon Fest

We, as a festival and a nonprofit, take pride in our NC-based roots, and we owe much to our community and the multitude of volunteers, other nonprofits and community agencies who ban together each year to make the Carolina BalloonFest a truly unforgettable event, one that has a tremendous impact on the wellbeing of the citizens of Iredell County and surrounding locations.

National Balloon Rally Charities, Inc. DBA Carolina BalloonFest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit which hosts an annual balloon festival, the Carolina BalloonFest, known as the second oldest hot air balloon festival in the country. Always occurring during the third weekend in October, the festival features hot air balloon morning competitions, mass ascensions, and evening balloon glows in addition to live entertainment on two stages, a kids’ zone, marketplace and artisan village, and NC wine and craft beer garden.
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To show thanks, a portion of our proceeds are donated to local nonprofit organizations at the Annual Volunteer and Sponsor Celebration every year. Throughout the years, National Balloon Rally Charities, Inc. DBA Carolina BalloonFest has donated over $1,000,000 back to the local community.

​A big thank you goes out to the volunteers, sponsors, partners, pilots and balloon enthusiasts who make the Carolina BalloonFest possible each year.