Up Up and Away at the Atlantic Balloon Fiesta

UPDATED AUGUST. 17, 2025

Atlantic Canada's Most Colourful Festival

Get ready to soar to new heights at Atlantic Canada’s most colourful celebration — the Atlantic Balloon Fiesta in Sussex, New Brunswick. Each September, the skies above this charming town transform into a floating gallery of vibrant hot air balloons. Whether you are mesmerized by the sight of these majestic balloons inflating and drifting through the crisp fall air, or daring enough to climb aboard for the ride of a lifetime, this four-day festival is filled with unforgettable moments.

Mark your calendars for the first weekend after Labour Day: Thursday, September 4 to Sunday, September 7, 2025. Festivities begin Thursday evening with the first balloon flights and continue all weekend with family fun, mouth-watering food, live music, and endless opportunities to make memories.

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. — Helen Keller

A Beloved Local Festival

The Atlantic Balloon Fiesta is one of Atlantic Canada’s Top Ten Festivals and has proudly earned titles such as Community Choice Winner and Most Celebrated Local Festival. None of it would be possible without the generosity of sponsors, the dedication of hundreds of volunteers, and the hospitality of local landowners who open their fields to balloonists.

Pack your sunscreen, water, and a lawn chair. The celebration is waiting for you.

More Than Balloons

The balloons may steal the spotlight, but there is plenty of fun on the ground too. Take in live entertainment at the Atlantic Superstore Bandstand, shop the bustling indoor market, wander through the amusement park, or visit the petting zoo. Car lovers will enjoy the Show & Shine event, while foodies can indulge in local flavours from countless vendors.

I have attended the Fiesta several times and no matter how much there is to do, the balloons always leave me awestruck. Each one, with its unique colours, patterns, and whimsical shapes, rises gently into the sky before drifting toward the horizon. It is a sight you will never forget.

The Magical Moon Glow

For an enchanting evening, stay after the early launch and witness the Moon Glow. Once the balloons return to the launch field, pilots inflate them again but keep them tethered to the ground. As night falls, the burners ignite in perfect coordination, turning the balloons into giant glowing lanterns against the dark sky. It is a breathtaking spectacle of light and colour that feels almost otherworldly.

The First Balloon

Did you know that on September 19, 1783, a hot air balloon took off from Versailles carrying a sheep, a duck and a rooster. They were the first passengers in a hot air balloon. On November 21, 1783, the first free ascent with human passengers happened.

Take to the Skies

If watching from below is magical, imagine the view from above. Twice a day, just after sunrise and again before sunset, festivalgoers can lift off in a hot air balloon if the weather allows. Floating over Sussex’s rolling hills and patchwork farmland is an experience beyond words.

Years ago, I surprised my husband with a balloon flight for our second wedding anniversary at a festival in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The exhilaration of liftoff, the quiet serenity in the sky, and the champagne toast after landing made it one of our most treasured memories. I dream of reliving that experience in Sussex.

For those ready to add this to their bucket list: flights cost $350 per person, and reservations can be made at the on-site information booth in the Golden Jubilee Hall. Pre-booking is not available, so arrive early to secure your spot.

Memorable Balloons

The Fiesta has welcomed many memorable balloons over the years. In 2018, “The Boy & The Girl,” a married pair of balloons from the Netherlands, debuted in Sussex. Their playful “kiss” before taking off together delighted the crowd and reminded us all that love really is in the air.

That same year also saw the launch of the whimsical Whale Balloon, dreamed up by the Whelan family and brought to life by Brazilian designer Marcos Bonimcontro. Made from more than 2,000 pieces of fabric stitched with 108 kilometres of thread, this balloon quickly became a fan favourite.

And then there is the friendly rivalry among balloonists. Some want to be the first to launch while others embrace being the very last. At the Fiesta, every lift off tells its own story.

Life is a Beautiful Ride

The Atlantic Balloon Fiesta is more than an event. It is a tradition, a celebration, and a feast for the senses. Whether you are on the ground, camera in hand, or floating high above Sussex, it is an experience that stays with you long after the balloons have drifted away.

The Atlantic Balloon Fiesta is a reminder that life is a beautiful ride. Come this September and let yourself be lifted by balloons, by community spirit, and by the magic that fills the Sussex sky.

colourful stipe lifting.jpg — Life is about using the whole box of crayons. — Ru Paul

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. — Mark Twain

Let Sussex Surprise YOU!

And while you are here, Let Sussex Surprise You! Wander its quaint shops and cafés, admire the surrounding farmland and rolling hills, and do not miss Atlantic Canada’s largest mural project, a stunning outdoor gallery that tells the town’s story through massive works of art painted across its buildings.

All thoughts and opinions are my own. Follow Maritimes Maven on FaceBook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn & Threads. Subscribe to be the first to receive my latest articles. Share articles you love with your social media community so they, too, will discover, There’s No Place Like Home!