4th Annual Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival
Balloon Rides • Balloon Glows • Balloon Dinners • Firework Finale • Carnival Rides
The City of Cathedral City and Fantasy Balloon Flights celebrate the 4th Annual Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival, presented by Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa, on Friday, November 17 through Sunday, November 19, 2017. The festival activities continue to expand each year with balloon rides across the Coachella Valley, balloon glows on Friday and Saturday nights, balloon dinners prepared by the chefs at Westin Mission Hills and Wally’s Desert Turtle, a brand new Saturday night Firework Finale courtesy of Sunniva, Inc., and Schoeppner Shows’ carnival rides for the entire family.
Friday – November 17th
The festival will bring more than 35 hot air balloons from across the United States and Canada to the Coachella Valley for a kaleidoscope of color, art, sound and enjoyment. The festival kicks-off on Friday morning for the “Hot Air Balloon Breakfast & Race,” sponsored by The Desert Sun, at Big League Dreams Sports Park (BLD), 33700 Date Palm Drive, where attendees can enjoy an American breakfast while watching the balloons inflate on three ball fields at 6 a.m. and then launch and race across the Valley for prizes shortly after 7 a.m. Tethered balloon rides will also be available. Tickets for the breakfast and balloon race are $10 plus processing and are available at www.HotAirBalloonFest.com or at the door.
On Friday evening from 6 pm to 8 pm, attendees can enjoy a Pinzimini Balloon Glow Dinner at the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa featuring the delectable Tuscan-inspired flavors of Pinzimini Restaurant. Ticketed guests will dine at Master’s Plaza in the glow of a dozen seven-story high hot air balloons set on the 18th fairway of the Pete Dye resort course. An included glass of sparkling wine, musical entertainment and dancing will make it an evening to remember!
In Downtown Cathedral City, the family can enjoy carnival rides and games by Schoeppner Shows from 4 pm to 11 pm.
Saturday – November 18th
The hot air balloon activities begin at 6 am with the inflation of 30 hot air balloons at Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage. Around 7 am, the balloons will mass ascend into the sky one by one and float across the Coachella Valley. Free admission. Attendees can also purchase balloon ride tickets and fulfill their bucket list of flying in a hot air balloon across the Valley. Tickets available at www.HotAirBalloonFest.com.
In addition, the festival offers tethered hot air balloon rides in Downtown Cathedral City, 68510 East Palm Canyon Drive beginning at 7:00 am until 11:00 a.m. Attendees may purchase the tethered rides onsite for $25 for adults, $20 for kids ages 5 -12 years, and free for children aged 5 years and under with an adult ticket purchase.
At 11:00 a.m. in Downtown Cathedral City, be sure to bring the kids to the Festival Lawn for a brand new activity called the “Banana Balloon Candy Drop” where a giant banana balloon will lower to the ground, and once landed, kids can rush inside the lawn to grab up to 10,000 pieces of candy thanks to La Michoacana Dulceria / Candy Shop for free. Afterwards, the kids will enjoy all the carnival rides and games by Schoeppner Shows.
Other afternoon activities include a professional kite show, Kid Zone, LIVE music, restaurant row featuring a great selection of local cuisine, beer and wine garden, and classic car club displays.
At 4:30 p.m. families, couples or groups of friends wanting to share a wonderful dining experience should get reservations for the outdoor Sunset Balloon Glow Dinner in front of City Hall. Guests will enjoy a beautiful, outdoor 3-course dinner prepared by Wally’s Desert Turtle chefs while listening to jazz favorites of multi-awarding winning jazz singer Yve Evans. Following the dinner, attendees will have passes to the VIP Viewing Lounge for the Saturday Night Balloon Glow to Music that begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at www.HotAirBalloonFest.com.
At 5:00 p.m. families should gather downtown to watch the inflation of up to 35 hot air balloons for the Cathedral City Balloon Glow to Music sponsored by Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa. This 45-minute balloon glow to music begins at 6:00 p.m. and will light up the night sky with a kaleidoscope of color, sound, and enjoyment. A VIP Viewing Section is also available for the Balloon Glow for $10 and includes a complimentary beverage. Tickets are available online at www.HotAirBalloonFest.com.
Following the balloon glow, enjoy LIVE local bands on the Main Stage while enjoying local cuisine and those 21 years and older may enjoy a beer and wine garden until 9:00 p.m.
At 9:00 p.m., festival goers will be treated to an amazing firework show in Downtown Cathedral City sponsored by Sunniva, Inc. The show will light up the night sky to music to cap-off the spectacular day of events.
Sunday – November 19
The balloon festival rises early on Sunday morning at 6:00 a.m. at Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa, 32-250 Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage with the inflation of balloons. At 7 a.m., a mass balloon ascension will happen as 35 balloons fly over the Coachella Valley. Guests can also enjoy breakfast at the Waters Café inside the casino or take a tethered hot air balloon ride nearby.
In Downtown Cathedral City, the family can enjoy carnival rides and games by Schoeppner Shows from 12 pm to 9 pm.
The festival offers free admission and free general parking. All balloon activities are weather and F.A.A. permitting. Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort and Spa offers attendees with a special balloon hotel rate and packages while supplies last.
Official sponsors include Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort and Spa; Sunniva, Inc.; Agua Caliente Casino, Resort & Spa; OutrageousCity.com; City of Cathedral City; Fantasy Balloon Flights; Volkswagen of Palm Springs; Wally’s Desert Turtle, AmeriGas; Burke, Williams, & Sorensen LLC; The Desert Sun; La Michoacana Ice Cream Parlor; Quick Quack Car Wash; Big League Dreams Sports Park; Café Italia; Mother Earth’s Farmacy; and GEDmag.com.
For all festival information, go to www.HotAirBalloonFest.com or www.DiscoverCathedralCity.com.
