Hudson Valley Balloon Festival Lifts Off in July

Poughkeepsie, NY — The annual Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival takes off July 8-10, and tickets purchased by Friday, July 1 get $2 off the cost of admission to the festival at Barton Orchards.

About 125 launches will occur over the three-day period, but Barton Orchards, 63 Apple Tree Lane in Poughquag, will be site of activities all weekend, according to information from the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Complete event information is available at balloonfesthv.com.

From the Chamber of Commerce:

Admission to the morning mass launches on Saturday and Sunday is free and the gates will open at 5 a.m. Admission to the festival starting at noon is $10 on Friday and Saturday in advance, (a limited number of tickets will be available at the gate for $12) and $5 on Sunday (available at the gate only). An all-access weekend pass is available for $17.95 until July 1. Both on- and off-site parking are free and off-site parking includes shuttle service when necessary.

New this year, thanks to Barton Orchards, there will be lots of family activities such as a petting zoo, crafts, hay mazes, hayrides, food trucks and vendors, a tap room, bakery and farmer’s market, fire pits, ball toss, live music entertainment by great bands on two stages and fireworks (Friday night). There will be helicopter rides and hot-air balloon rides available for a fee in advance. Tether rides will also be for sale the day of the event (cash only, please). The expanded moon glow, scheduled for Saturday night, will include 10 balloons lighting up the night sky.

For the first time this year, a mass balloon launch will be held on Sunday evening. Balloon launches will be at 6 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and 6 p.m. Friday-Sunday. All launches are completely weather dependent. Updates will be posted on the Chamber’s website at dcrcoc.org as well as its Facebook and Twitter pages. Allow extra time for traffic to ensure seeing the balloons inflate and launch and then share your photos using hashtag #dcrcocBalloon.

At Migliorelli Farm on Friday and Saturday afternoon, one balloon will launch at 6 p.m. There will be activities and concessions as well as tether rides for sale (cash only, please). Admission and parking at Migliorelli Farm are free.

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