Even though hot air balloons are not widely used as a means of transport, hot air ballooning is a popular recreational activity. There are many regular hot air balloon festivals around the world where balloonists can interact with each other, share experiences, and participate in hot air balloon races, and the general public can watch the balloons and take hot air balloon rides.
Thailand is one of the countries that host international hot air balloon events. The country’s inaugural International Balloon Fiesta was held in 2007 in the city of Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai hosted the festival until 2016, when it went on hiatus. The fiesta was revived in 2020 in another city, Chiang Rai, situated a few hours northeast of Chiang Mai. There was no festival in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Chiangrai International Balloon Fiesta returned in 2022 and has been going strong ever since.
The Chiangrai International Balloon Fiesta takes place in Singha Park, a scenic farmlike location with orchards, trails, and tea plantations. It is held every February around Valentine’s Day, attracting thousands of locals and tourists. In fact, the festival is one of the most popular ways to spend Valentine’s Day in the area. Many couples come here to take romantic photos, and some even opt to get married during the event!
The spectacular Chiangrai International Balloon Fiesta is a fun event for the whole family that gives the general public an amazing opportunity to experience giant hot air balloons up close. The festival runs for four days filled with balloon competitions and breathtaking Hot Air Balloon Tethering Shows and Balloon Magic Night Glow Shows.
The Singha Park Chiangrai International Balloon Fiesta features several dozen balloons of different shapes and designs, with their pilots and teams participating in various competitions every day. It attracts balloonists from different countries around the globe; for example, the 2024 fiesta featured teams from France, Germany, Japan, Latvia, the Philippines, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Like many balloon festivals, the Singha Park International Balloon Fiesta offers hot air balloon rides to spectators. The rides are provided by Balloon Adventure Thailand, the first and only one company operating hot air balloon rides in the country. It should be noted that the rides are very popular so it is recommended to come early if you want to take a ride or even book a ride a day or two in advance.
In addition to hot air balloons, there are food stalls, beer gardens, and live musical performances and other entertainment to keep visitors occupied and happy in between hot air balloon competitions and demonstrations, well into the night.
Photo: chiangraiballoonfiesta.com
