Natchez Balloon Festival

41st Annual Natchez Balloon Festival

The Natchez Balloon Festival, established in 1986, is a weekend of hot-air balloons and live music on the park-like grounds of Rosalie Mansion in historic downtown Natchez, Mississippi. Festival grounds sit on the mansion’s bluffs above the Mississippi River.

Official festival dates: October 16–17, 2026 (Friday–Saturday). Site headers also show October 16–18, 2026 because weather-permitting balloon flights are additionally scheduled for Sunday morning and afternoon.

Hot-air balloons do not take off from or land at the festival site. Launch and landing locations are chosen at flight time based on weather.

Hours (FAQ)

• Friday, October 16: Gates open 4:00 PM; last show starts 8:00 PM
• Saturday, October 17: Gates open 11:00 AM; last show starts 8:00 PM

Festival schedule (official lineup)

• Thursday, October 15: 5:00 PM — Live @ Five, Natchez Bluff Bandstand (pre-festival)
• Friday, October 16: Morning balloon flight (TBD); gates 4:00 PM; Balloon Glow at festival site 6:45 PM; fireworks 7:45 PM; The Chee-Weez 8:00 PM
• Saturday, October 17: Morning balloon flight (TBD); gates 11:00 AM; Sammy Qadan & The Second Hand Smokers 12:30 PM; Mathias Lattin 2:00 PM; afternoon balloon flight (TBD); Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience 3:45 PM; Journey from the Heart 5:30 PM; Tonic 7:30 PM

Weather permitting, balloons inflate and glow on site Friday night. Saturday afternoon pilots aim to fly over Rosalie. Sunday afternoon launches are from the north end of the bluff near Broadway and High Streets. Tethered balloon rides may be offered to the public on Saturday at the festival site, weather permitting.

Balloons typically launch about 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Text FLY to 601-445-9500 for flight notifications.

Tickets

Sold via BonTempsTix (official partner). Children ten and under are free. Sales are final, no refunds.

• Friday GA: $20
• Saturday GA: $35 advance / $45 day-of; Saturday VIP: $130 advance / $155 day-of
• Weekend GA: $45 advance / $55 day-of; Weekend VIP: $325 advance / $375 day-of

VIP includes the Cappy Stahlman Sponsor and VIP tent overlooking the river. Carnival rides require a separate on-site ticket.

Location & parking

Rosalie Mansion, 100 Orleans Street, Natchez, MS 39120. Free lot via D. A. Biglane Drive adjacent to the site; Visitor Center parking with shuttles; downtown street parking. No pets except credentialed service dogs. No coolers or outside food/drinks on site.

Contact

Natchez Balloon Festival, P.O. Box 1775, Natchez, Mississippi 39121. Phone: (601) 442-2500. Email: [email protected]