East Tennessee's
Biggest Balloon Event!
Live Music, Food, and Fun
September 2-3 2023 Sequoyah Birthplace Museum Vonore, TN
Tenth Year of The Largest Balloon Festival In The Region
A Labor Day weekend event full of larger than life hot air balloons, fair-style foods, live music, a dedicated Kids Fun Zone, and tethered balloon rides. Each night ends with a coordinated Balloon Glow where pilots light their balloons to the rhythm of the music on stage.
This is a non-profit event, and all proceeds go directly to Boys & Girls Club of Monroe County. This organization helps hundreds of kids each year, and their studies show that children involved in a club become more caring, productive, and responsible citizens. We fully support their mission and are grateful for the work they do for our community.
See This Year's Balloons
We constantly look to add new balloons all the way up to our event date. Our goal is to provide our guests with the best show we can!
This Year’s Performing Artists
Dusty Leigh Huston
After many weeks of searching, we found the perfect bands to help us celebrate the 10th year of our festival!
For the 10th Annual Monroe Life Balloon Festival, we are proud to present Dusty Leigh Huston as the performing artist for both days. This incredible country-music artist was named the 2022 ISSA Female Vocalist of the Year. Her debut EP, Roots & Dreams, has been a huge hit, and she’s hard at work on a new album. Her songs have been streamed well over 200,000 times on Spotify. She is from Idaho and now lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Come to the festival to hear her perform live!
“Dusty Leigh is quite the unique talent in music, today. Easily said, nobody sounds like Dusty and nobody brings to the table the sound she does, nor do they even come close to bringing to the table the same artistry.”
—Nicholas Liddle, PopWrapped
Tim Graves & The Farm Hands
Tim Graves and the Farm Hands is one of the most exciting and in demand bands in Bluegrass music. Since their inception in 2010, the band has received over 82 award nominations, winning an unprecedented 34 major awards including Entertainers of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Bluegrass Band of the Year overall, and Bluegrass Gospel Band of the Year at the 2019 and 2020 Bluegrass Music Awards.
Touring over 150 dates each year, this talented group features veterans of the world-famous Grand Ole Opry, Grammy award winners, songwriters, and celebrated instrumentalists. They are one of the busiest touring bands in Bluegrass, performing over 150 dates per year at a variety of venues such as festivals, churches, performing arts centers, theaters, and fairs.
Moments From Last Year's Festival
See the highlights of last year's festival as we get closer to the 2023 Monroe Life Balloon Festival.
This year is already full of exciting things and we're not done yet!
Get Your Ticket Today
Enjoy live music, delicious festival foods, tethered balloon rides, and more. VIP guests enjoy closer parking, a catered dinner from LongHorn Steakhouse, and access to the exclusive VIP tent!
General Admission
Add a tethered ride ticket for just $20!
This is a rain or shine event
- Access Event
- Live Music
- Fair Style Food
- Kids Zone
- Optional Tethered Rides
VIP Experience
Add a tethered ride ticket for just $20!
This is a rain or shine event
- VIP Parking
- VIP Tent Access
- Premium Viewing Area
- VIP Dinner Included
- Quick Ride Pass
- Live Music
Have questions? Get in touch and we’ll do our best to help.
This Year's Vendors
We wouldn't be able to host our festival without help from these amazing companies. A huge thanks to all our sponsors and vendors!
Last Year's Highlights
Last year was a success as we featured some of the largest balloons we've ever had.
Have Questions? Look Here.
We're here to help answer your questions. If you don't see it answered below, please contact us.
Our festival takes place every year on Labor Day weekend at Sequoyah Birthplace Museum in Vonore.
Guests begin arriving around 3:00p - 3:30p to ensure good parking and will line up at the gate. The event starts at 4:00p and ticket sales at the gate will begin at that time.For faster entry, please purchase your ticket online in advance!
We sell our tickets online on this website and through Eventbrite. We also sell tickets through select groups such as the Boys and Girls Club in addition to offering tickets day of the event at the gates.
Yes. We have the first two rows of parking dedicated to handicap parking, and guests that have difficulty walking to/from their vehicle can request one of our staff members to give them a ride in the golf carts.
You're welcome to bring items such as chairs, blankets or towels, cushions, strollers, or wagons. However, since we are on Cherokee land, they have a strict no alcohol policy that they enforce at the event. Guests are also not allowed to bring outside food or coolers.
Tethered balloon rides are offered weather permitting at $20/per person. You can buy these ahead of time online or day of event.
We let the parent decide if their kids are old enough to ride alone or if they need a parent to ride with them. Keep in mind that the noise and heat of the balloon's burners may not be suitable for smaller children or those with sensory sensitivities.
The tethered balloon rides last 5 minutes and go around 50 feet in the air. It's the perfect height for photos of the lake and sunset. Upon completion of the ride, the balloon will be gently brought back down and a crew of volunteers will help you out of the basket.
This is a rain or shine event, and we have staff members that will be monitoring the weather and posting critical updates to our Facebook. If there's rain or inclement weather, we may not be able to inflate the balloons or offer tethered rides until the weather clears up. The food, live music, kids activities, vendor and craft booths, and VIP tent + dinner all continue regardless of weather.
Unfortunately, no. All the proceeds from this event go directly to the Boys & Girls Club so we can't offer refunds. This event is a rain or shine event meaning that no refunds will be offered due to weather.
Only service animals are allowed at this event.
Still have a question? Ask your question here
Not Sure Where To Stay?
Finding a good hotel can be tricky. So here are some of our favorite hotels nearby. You can also check our partner sites for additional hotels and prices.