The Great Smoky Mountains Hot Air Balloon Festival will celebrate its third year with high expectations on Aug. 17.
Professional balloonists will light up the Tennessee evening sky with a beautiful glow. A spectrum of color will cast over the breathtaking Smoky Mountain sunset like never before.
The 2019 event will return to the Townsend Visitors Center located at 7906 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Everyone will find something to enjoy at this year’s festival. The event will feature food trucks, beer tents, wine tastings and various local vendors, as well as kid-friendly activities like face painting and rock climbing. The night will end with a balloon glow from 8 to 9:30 p.m. With exciting new additions in 2019, attendees will be able to experience a variety of events and festivities. Live entertainment, local crafters, food trucks and wine tastings are just a few of the activities for guests to participate in. Tethered balloon rides will allow attendees to ride and bask in the picturesque scenery from the hot air balloons, weather permitting.
“Since August is a prime time to visit the Blount County area, we’re excited to host the third annual Hot Air Balloon Festival,” said Blount Partnership Director of Tourism Kim Mitchell. “This year we’ve made it a priority to have something for everybody to create the ultimate guest experience at the event.”
Since the event has grown to over 10,000+ attendees, guests of this event are encouraged to book their stay in Blount County and the Townsend area in advance. For a list of accommodations, places to eat and things to do in Blount County, attendees can visit www.smokymountains.org/plan-your-trip.
Festival admission is free, with the exception of wine tasting tickets. You can purchase a ticket on-site for $10, which includes a gift with purchase. Since the event has grown each year, parking will be available for purchase in advance at $20, or on-site for $25 the day of the event.
For more information on the Great Smoky Mountains Hot Air Balloon Festival, visit gsmballoonfest.com.