The International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu was founded in 1984 as a joint initiative of the Chamber of Commerce, the Tourism Board and the Economic Council of Le Haut-Richelieu. The event was created to promote summer tourism in the municipality and develop the economy of the region.
The festival takes place each August in Pierre-Trahan Park adjacent to Saint-Jean Airport. Despite not being held in one of the province’s two biggest cities, Montreal and Quebec City, the International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is one of the five largest festivals in Quebec.
The program of the festival includes balloon launches, hot air balloon flights, the Night Glows (Nuits Magiques), live performances on several stages, special activities for kids and families, amusement rides, food vendors, and more. The festival is a family-friendly event that offers exciting activities for visitors of all ages.
Hot air balloon launches take place twice a day, at 6 am and at 6 pm, weather permitting. If the weather conditions are unfavorable, the takeoff is canceled and festival-goers can get a refund. It is possible to book a hot air balloon flight. A flight lasts approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on the weather, but the whole activity from meeting the pilot to getting back to the starting point usually takes up 3 to 4 hours.
The Night Glows are event more spectacular than the take-offs. When the night falls, tethered balloons are lit up against the dark sky like Chinese lanterns. At the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Festival, this unforgettable event is known as the Nuits Magiques (Magical Nights), and it does live up to its name!
Music fans from all over Quebec come to the festival to enjoy live performances. Artists who have performed in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu during the hot air balloon festival include The Wanted, Carley Rae Jepsen, Sean Paul, Akon, Tokio Hotel, Flo Rida, Pitbull, LMFAO, Rihanna, Kesha, Wycleff Jean, and others.
Photo: Takebo
