Hot air balloons are soaring above the Smoky Mountains this weekend during the Lakeside of the Smokies Balloonfest in Dandridge. The event is full of fall fun began on Saturday, Oct. 28, and ends Sunday, Oct. 29.
This event includes a craft fair, wine tasting, live music, food trucks, beer garden and an antique tractor show. There is not much this weekend event doesn’t have to offer. And don’t forget about the balloons – the Lakeside Balloonfest offers both tethered and untethered balloon rides.
Ticketing for this event includes many different options that will cater to the experience guests want.
General admission prices for the event on Saturday were $25 for adults and $15 for youth between ages 3-17. On Sunday, the prices drop – general admission tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for youth.
General admission allows guests to enter the event and partake in all of the festivities besides the wine tasting, craft beer tasting and the balloon rides.
Add-on purchases are also available, such as Craft Beer Tasting tickets that will include sipping from local East Tennessee breweries. Additionally, Nine Lakes Wine Tasting tickets will include 10 wineries that will present two to three different wines with various flavors. A complimentary wine glass is also included with this tasting.
Both tickets are $25 each and sold in addition to the general admission ticket.
If you want to get up early and watch the sunrise over the mountains, the Lakeside Balloonfest has something for you as well. On both Saturday and Sunday morning, the festival will hold a catered breakfast. The breakfast will begin at 7 a.m. and conclude at 10 a.m.
You can start your morning off with mimosas and breakfast as you watch the hot air balloon take off. Tickets include a Q&A with a hot air balloon pilot. The Morning Ascension Mimosa and Breakfast tickets will be sold for $30 each for both Saturday and Sunday in addition to general admission ticket purchases.
The Elevated experience will include the “VIP” section of the event. This ticket will include admission to both Saturday and Sunday festivities. A tethered balloon ride, VIP tented seating, parking, wine tasting and optimal viewing of the event is included with this package.
The Elevated experience tickets were $150 on Saturday and are $125 on Sunday, and guests must be 21 or older to purchase.
The gates will open at 1 p.m. and close at 8 p.m. following the nightly “Balloon Glow.” The actual festival will begin at 2 p.m. and balloons will ascend at 3-4 p.m.
Once you have entered the festival you may purchase tethered hot air balloon rides for $20 – these tickets are sold on a first come first serve basis. You may only purchase these tickets with cash only.
If you are interested in an untethered hot air balloon ride, you must purchase your ticket before the festival begins. Each ride will be 40-60 minutes long. Each ticket will cost $350 and must be paid in full before signing up for the balloon ride.
The festival is not offering refunds for weather-related issues. Please note that this event is rain or shine. All canceled hot air balloon rides will be offered a full refund.
Riley Spradlin, sophomore animal science major, has attended the festival for the past three years and says that the Lakeside of the Smokies Balloon Fest has become a ritual for her and her family.
“I am for Campbell County and my entire family looks forward to this weekend all year,” Spradlin said. “It is truly a hidden gem that I think is a must for people new to the area.”
Michaela Haston, owner of the Keoke Coffee Bar that makes its daily rounds at UT, states that this time last year was one of her first events with her business.
“It created some amazing memories and we still talk about it constantly,” Haston said. “My business has grown a lot in a year so I’m excited to bring improved items back as well as new items and get all of the patron’s responses.”
For more information, visit the festival’s website.