The The Flying Circus Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival will be held on Saturday, September 20, and Sunday, September 21. The must-see Fauquier County event is located just off Route 17 at 5114 Ritchie Rd. (Route 644) in Bealeton.
The gates open at 6 a.m., and hot air balloons will launch in the mornings from 7 to 9 a.m. and evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. This is a first-come, first-served event, with no reservations available.
What to Expect
Balloons are anchored to the ground, and after liftoff, they slowly rise to the end of their tether. After they remain aloft for a few minutes, they descend back to the takeoff point. Most balloon baskets will hold a pilot and two or more passengers.
You can arrange for a flight onsite with the balloon pilots, who will offer mostly tethered or chartered flights. The Flying Circus will also present airshows at 1:30 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Tethered balloon rides are $20 for adults and $10 for kids (12 and under). Free-flight balloon rides are $300 per person. Rides are cash-only, and you can pay when you arrive at the balloon.
More Attractions
Airplane rides will also be available during the festival, and riders will have the chance to see the hot air balloons from an open-cockpit biplane. For a single passenger, the biplanes are $135 for a standard ride and $200 for an aerobatic ride. Two passengers can enjoy a standard ride for $200.
A snack bar will serve hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, ice cream, and more. You can enjoy your food at the large shaded picnic areas or pavilion, which also provide great views of the balloons.
The Flying Circus also offers an airshow on every Sunday from May through October. The shows run from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Feature image courtesy Andy Dean/stock.adobe.com
