Lakeside of the Smokies Balloon Fest
Wild Blue Yonder is excited to be the first band playing both days of this festival, from 1pm-2pm, Saturday and Sunday. Join us for an amazing time!
Chilton Farm in White Pine TN has partnered with regional balloonist and the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council to bring you Tennessee’s largest Hot Air Balloon Festival and East Tennessee’s premier Fall Agritourism event, Lakeside of the Smokies Balloon Festival. Scheduled during peak color season in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the marvelous colors of autumn will provide the perfect backdrop for 25 hot air balloons as they ascend above Douglas Lake and provide spectacular views of the surrounding rural countryside and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Chilton Farm will be filled with activities on–the-ground and in-the-air, the festival provides family fun for all ages. From antique tractors and engines, local farm fare, live bands, climbing walls, kids activities and much more, join us for an afternoon of family fun for all ages. The balloons will begin to inflate early afternoon with as many as 10 balloons ascending in untethered (free) flight, shape balloons inflating for static display and 10 additional round balloons providing tethered rides.
Attendees will be able to walk among the static display balloons, a balloon basket will be available for selfies and tethered rides will be given until balloons start forming up around dusk for the evening glow. The glow will last around an hour each evening. Everything is conditional on weather (if weather does not permit an elevated balloon glow the balloons will perform a candlestick glow).
There is no admission fee. There is a fee for parking that covers festival expenses. Parking for the event is $20 per car in advance of the event. Parking passes are available online for both Saturday and Sunday, and can be purchased until midnight the day prior to the event. Parking passes will be $30 per car day of the event. We strongly encourage you to pre-purchase parking tickets as this will allow rapid flow of traffic at the event. Parking is limited and passes may sell out, so please purchase early; you don’t want to miss out on Tennessee’s primer Fall Agritourism event, Lakeside of the Smokies Balloon Festival.