Monroe Life Balloon Festival
Join us for our annual balloon festival benefitting the Boys & Girls Club of Monroe County. This event is celebrating it's tenth anniversary this year, and we're going bigger than ever before to celebrate this milestone. More balloons, more vendors, and more fun!
Sequoyah Birthplace Museum
Sequoyah Birthplace Museum serves as a primary historical resource on the legacy of Sequoyah as a history of Cherokee homelands in his lifetime. We are rooted in Tennessee, and tied directly to Sequoyah – his achievements with the Cherokees and humankind as a whole.
- – Located on the waters of Little Tennessee River
- – Brand New $3 Million Exhibit
- – Reconstruction of 1809 Blacksmith Shop
- – Reconstruction of period correct log cabin
An Unforgettable Evening
Our Balloon Festival features pilots from all over the country that travel just to be a part of our festival. These pilots bring years of experience and stories to share while providing tethered balloon rides that go 50 feet in the air.
Our event also features live music from well-known local artists, fair-style food and snacks, 20+ vendor and craft booths, an inflatable Kids Fun Zone, and a nighttime Balloon Glow to end the evening.
VIP guests enjoy premium parking spaces, access to the VIP tent with the best view of all the balloons, included dinner and drinks provided by LongHorn Steakhouse.
Why Should You Attend?
Have Fun While Supporting a Good Cause
Monroe Life Balloon Festival is a registered nonprofit and all proceeds from this event go directly to the Boys & Girls Club of Monroe County. This organization provides a safe, encouraging after school center where they aim to help children in need and help keep them out of trouble. Boys & Girls Club also helps build ideals and character traits that help today’s youth develop into their full potential as Caring, Productive, Responsible citizens.
We’re proud to support the Boys & Girls Club and we stand behind their mission to help today’s youth. If you’d like to learn more about this organization, their mission, or donate directly to their cause, please click the link below!
Thank You To All Last Year's Sponsors
Our sponsors help us keep the balloon festival coming back each year.
Thank you! 2024 Sponsors coming soon!
Our Sponsors
Watch Last Year's Highlights
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!
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, wagons, or coolers. However, since we are on Cherokee land, they have a strict no alcohol policy that they enforce at the event.
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.