Colorful Balloons Take Flight at Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival

OBA Staff • May 2, 2025

Tethered Rides and Evening Glows Among Festival Highlights

Colorful Balloons Take Flight at Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival

Foley, Ala. – (OBA) – Colorful hot air balloons are floating above Foley as the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival returns. Dozens of massive balloons in various shapes and bright colors create a spectacular aerial display. Residents and tourists gather to witness the impressive sight. The annual event transforms the Gulf Coast skies into a canvas of floating art.

Thousands of visitors are expected to attend the festival at OWA through May 4. The popular annual event draws guests from across the region each spring.

Weather forecasts show a 50% chance of rain today, 80% on Saturday, and 30% on Sunday. However, Gulf Coast residents know these predictions can often change quickly.

Morning balloon flights start at 6:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Evening glows, where tethered balloons light up after sunset, will happen on Friday and Saturday nights.

Festival guests can take tethered balloon rides for $20 per person. These rides lift passengers about 50 feet above ground while the balloon remains secured to the earth.

Kids can enjoy face painting and inflatables in the children's area. Live music performances will entertain crowds throughout the festival.

Food vendors will offer various options for hungry visitors. Local craft makers will sell their goods at booths across the festival grounds.

Local businesses look forward to the tourism boost during this popular event. The festival has become an important economic driver for the Foley area.

Admission to the festival is free, but parking costs $5 per vehicle. A free shuttle service runs from the Foley Municipal Airport parking lot to the festival grounds.

The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival began in 2004. It has grown into one of the region's most anticipated spring events.

Balloon pilots from across the country participate in the festival. Weather conditions play a key role in flight schedules, as balloons cannot fly in rain or strong winds.

Visitors are encouraged to bring cameras to capture the colorful sights. The early morning and evening hours offer the best lighting for balloon photography.

The festival opened at 2 p.m. yesterday and continued until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., while Sunday's schedule runs from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Jennifer Ponto, Foley's Director of Marketing, says the festival showcases the beauty of hot air balloons while bringing economic benefits to the community.

The festival is organized by the City of Foley and the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce. Volunteers help manage the crowds and assist with balloon operations.

Organizers note that all balloon activities are subject to change based on weather conditions. Attendees are encouraged to check the festival website for updates and a complete schedule of events.

Daily Schedules:

Friday, May 2

3:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Festival opens to the public
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Vibe Irie
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo at the Meet & Greet Tent
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Interactive Hot Air Balloon Display (weather permitting)
5:00 pm – 5:35 pm: Disc-Connected K9 Frisbee Dog Show
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Cadie Calhoun
7:00 pm – 7:35 pm: Disc-Connected K9 Frisbee Dog Show
7:30 pm: Tethered Rides and Balloon Glow (weather permitting)
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm: Fly By Radio

Saturday, May 3

10:00 am – 10:00 pm: Festival opens to the public
11:00 am – 2:00 pm: Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo at Meet & Greet Tent
11:30 am – 12:05 pm: Disc-Connected K9 Frisbee Dog Show
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Interactive Hot Air Balloon Display (weather permitting)
2:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Hot Air Balloon Pilots at Meet & Greet Tent
3:00 pm – 3:35 pm: Disc-Connected K9 Frisbee Dog Show
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Dorsten
6:30 pm – 7:05 pm: Disc-Connected K9 Frisbee Dog Show
7:30 pm: Tethered Rides and Balloon Glow (weather permitting)
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm: The Tip Tops

Beat the traffic with our complimentary shuttle available at Liberty Church.

Friday: 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Saturday: 2:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Note: The festival is free to the public. Please note that hot air balloon activities are highly weather-dependent; flight and glow times may be delayed or canceled due to weather. Balloons are typically visible at dawn and dusk, subject to weather conditions.

< Older Post Newer Post >

Share this article w/ Friends...

Traffic to Shift to Roundabout Coming Monday on Canal Road

By OBA Staff • May 2, 2025

Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – Traffic is about to shift on State Route 180 (Canal Road) in Baldwin County as part of the new Intracoastal Waterway Bridge project. A new roundabout and a section of newly built Canal Road will now carry traffic. The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is making this change to move drivers closer to the final layout. Crews will be on-site to complete the shift in one day

Some of the “Holmes babies,” children born at the Holmes Memorial Hospital between 1936 and 1958.

Holmes Babies Reunion Celebrates Baldwin County’s First Hospital

By Guy Busby • May 2, 2025

Foley, Ala. – (OBA) – Dozens of people born at Holmes Memorial Hospital came back to Foley on Sunday, April 27. They gathered at the Holmes Medical Museum to celebrate Baldwin County’s first hospital. The hospital helped deliver about 300 babies between 1936 and 1958. Some descendants also joined the special reunion.

GOMESA Grants Open for Community Project Suggestions

By OBA Staff • May 2, 2025

Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) is now accepting suggestions for projects to be funded through the GOMESA grant program. This program is designed to support coastal restoration, protection, and infrastructure work. Community members are encouraged to take part by submitting ideas. The goal is to help protect Alabama’s coast and natural resources.

Orange Beach Softball Clinches Fifth Consecutive Area Title

By OBA Staff • May 1, 2025

Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – The Orange Beach Makos softball team secured their fifth straight Class 4A Area 1 title with a dominant 10-0 victory over Satsuma High School on Monday, April 28th. This win continues their impressive streak of area championships since the program's inception.

Sea Turtle Nesting Season Kicks Off Today on Alabama’s Gulf Coast

By R. Ken Cooper • May 1, 2025

Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – Sea turtle nesting season has officially begun along Alabama’s Gulf Coast, marking a critical time for conservation efforts. From May 1 through October 31, endangered sea turtles—including loggerheads, green sea turtles, and Kemp’s Ridleys—return to the beaches of Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, and Fort Morgan to lay their eggs. This ancient ritual is vital for the survival of these species, which are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Local volunteers and organizations are mobilizing to ensure the safety of both nesting turtles and their hatchlings.

Bay Watch Boat Ramp at Weeks Bay to Close for Renovations

By OBA Staff • May 1, 2025

Fish River, Ala. – (OBA) – The Bay Watch Boat Ramp in Baldwin County will close on May 5 for parking area improvements, according to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR). The work should be finished by early August, weather permitting.

Baldwin County Among a Dozen Counties in Alabama Facing Burn Ban

By OBA Staff • May 1, 2025

Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) is reminding residents that a seasonal burn ban starts today, May 1st. It will continue through the end of October. The ban is aimed at protecting the air during the warmer months. Baldwin County is one of 12 counties in Alabama included in the ban.

Testing the active acoustic sampling system on a NOAA Fisheries research vessel.

NOAA Uses AI and Sonar to Track Red Snapper in the Gulf

By OBA Staff • April 30, 2025

Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – NOAA Fisheries is using advanced technology and artificial intelligence to gather better data on red snapper and reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico, according to a report from NOAA Fisheries on April 15, 2025. In February, NOAA tested new equipment aboard a research vessel. This technology combines video and acoustic cameras, echosounders, and artificial intelligence to estimate red snapper abundance even in poor visibility conditions.

Orange Beach to Observe National Day of Prayer Thursday

By OBA Staff • April 30, 2025

Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – Residents and visitors are invited to join in a special event honoring the National Day of Prayer. The event will take place at the Coastal Arts Center in Orange Beach under the tent near Wolf Bay. Several local church pastors will lead prayers during the gathering.

Baldwin County Probate and Revenue Offices in Robertsdale to Close for Renovation

By OBA Staff • April 30, 2025

Robertsdale, Ala. – (OBA) – The Baldwin County Probate and Revenue Offices at the Central Annex in Robertsdale will close temporarily for renovations. The closure begins May 1, 2025. Renovations are expected to take around ten months to complete. The goal is to upgrade the facility and improve services.