Festival of Balloons

LAUNCHING IN...

about the Festival

Our Mission: To provide fundraising opportunities for local non-profit organizations while celebrating our community.

Welcome to the event that celebrates our community, the Festival of Balloons in Tigard! The hot air balloons are definitely the featured attraction of the Festival, but... it’s MORE than balloons! The Festival is a place for families and friends to gather, play and relax. Join us in the pre-dawn hours as approximately 20 hot air balloons launch into the morning sky (weather and pilot permitting). Spend the afternoon shopping at the craft and vendor booths, eating great food from local food vendors, and enjoying thrilling Funtastic carnival rides and games. Of course, it wouldn’t be the Festival of Balloons without the ever-impressive NW Natural Night Glow (weather permitting), the Rogue Ales Beer Garden, Main Stage Entertainment Presented by Krista Britton, Hillshire Realty Group|REAL, Festival of Cars presented by Landmark Ford, Kid’s Zone and a whole lot more! Check out the Schedule of Events for complete details.

The Festival of Balloons is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization raising funds for many non-profit groups in Tigard while providing a premier family event for the entire community. Following the 2023 Festival, approximately $40,000 was raised by the following groups: Tigard Breakfast Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Tigard, Tigard High School Athletic Boosters, Tigard High Band Boosters, Mountain Wave Search & Rescue, Foundation for Tigard-Tualatin Schools, Tigard’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Boy Scouts, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, THS Clubs, Meals on Wheels, Mustang Wranglers and more.

tICKETS & Parking

ADVANCE TICKET PURCHASE REQUIRED. A 3 day-weekend pass, unlimited access to the Festival for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday is available for purchase online only ~ advance ticket purchase required. 6 and under are free.

What if I forget to buy my entrance ticket and show up at the gate? Don’t stress ~ grab your mobile device (phone) and locate the signage onsite with a QR code/direct link to our ticketing partner (Interactive Ticketing) page. Purchase your tickets with debit or credit card. Once you receive the text (optional ~ we suggest you do this!) or email confirmation with a barcode or personal ticket QR code, bring it to the gate where a volunteer will scan and exchange it for a TFOB bracelet. Save the barcode to return each day and exchange for a new daily bracelet. Buy online today and save time at the gate. Parking passes are not sold in advance due to limited availability.

GENERAL ADMISSION: 6 and under are free. | Ages 7+: $15 (+ fees), good for all 3 days

A 3 day-weekend pass is available online ONLY - We do not sell a single day pass
Ticket is good for unlimited access to the Festival for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Admission proceeds benefit our non-profit event volunteers.
Tickets are only sold through the Festival’s website.

PARKING **OPTIONAL

TFOB provides a parking lot at Tigard High school for close convenience parking, $15 daily, this is OPTIONAL to use. There is plenty of FREE parking offsite or bike/walk in using one of the trails that access Cook Family Park.
Close, convenient parking (Debit, Credit, or Apple Pay only – no cash) is available at the festival general parking lot, located at the Tigard Swim Center entrance (8680 SW Durham Road).
The Festival does not pre-sell general lot parking passes. Spaces are limited and lot parking is subject to availability.
Parking proceeds benefit our non-profit event volunteers from both the THS Breakfast Rotary & THS Athletic Boosters. Parking fee does not include admission into the Festival.

Our parking is in high demand at peek festival times (morning launches and late afternoon/evening). We suggest looking at alternate ways to get to the event this year: walk, bike, scooter, carpool, or bus are a few suggestions as we anticipate large crowds. Plan ahead and arrive early. If lot is full, street/neighborhood parking is available. Don’t forget about the footbridge from Tualatin! Cook Family Park Access Map (click to open a map of access points).

Shuttle & ADMISSION locations

SHUTTLE: $2/person (small children ride free on a lap)
Debit, Credit, or Apple Pay only – no cash.
It's a brief walk down the hill to the festival grounds or catch a Shuttle Brought to you by Beach Hut Deli.

ADMISSION LOCATIONS
The Festival has three (3) admission tents. The Main admission tent is located at the southwest corner of the Tigard High School athletic field near 92nd & Waverly. This mostly serves those who parked at the high school or walked in from neighborhoods along Durham. The East admission tent is located on the east end of Cook Family Park near the toddler playground and butterfly garden. Access from the path coming from Tualatin Community Park or 85th Ave. The West admission tent is located on the west end of Cook Family Park near the basketball/sand volleyball courts. Access from Riverwood Ln in the Cook Family Park neighborhood. Cook Family Park Access Map (click to open a map of Cook Family Park access points).

Stay in Touch

Don’t miss out on up-to-date information about the Festival including morning and Night Glow launch details. Follow us on Facebook.

WHERE ARE THE BALLOONS?

We do not offer any balloon flights during the Festival; however, we do offer free tethered rides for all ages each morning at no additional cost (weather and pilot permitting). Visit Schedule of Events for tethering times and follow us on Facebook for day of balloon activity status.

Weather and pilot permitting, balloons will only be onsite for morning launches from 5:45-6:15am (balloons may be visible in the sky longer depending on wind speed), tether rides (6:30-7:30am or as long as fuel lasts and weather permits) and Night Glow (sunset). Enjoy a number of other Festival attractions in between these hours.

Why are balloons only onsite in the morning and evening? Hot air balloons can only fly in stable air and no rain (including foreseeable rain). During the day, the sun heats the earth, which creates thermals making it unstable for balloons to fly.

Where do the balloons fly in the morning? Balloons will follow the direction of the wind and for the Tigard Festival of Balloons that wind needs to be blowing generally South to avoid populated areas to the North. Look for the balloons over Tigard, Tualatin, Sherwood, Wilsonville, Aurora or Woodburn.