Talk to CarmelLook up, Statesville!
The 51st Carolina BalloonFest fills the sky over Statesville Regional Airport. Scroll from the first morning launch to the evening glow.
October 16–18, 2026.
The festival happens the third weekend of every October at Statesville Regional Airport, 260 Hangar Dr. This year is the 51st, and it's one of my favorite weekends of the year.
Up at sunrise. Glowing at dusk.
Stay for the whole day.
Between launches there's live music, the NC Wine Garden with local wineries and breweries, artisan vendors, a Kids Zone, and pilots you can meet in person.
- Tethered rides
- Live music
- NC Wine Garden
- Kids Zone
- Artisan vendors
- Pilot meet-and-greets
Tethered rides cost extra and, like every flight, depend on the weather.
Check the wind.
Balloons only fly when the weather allows. Pick the conditions and watch what the pilots do.
Check the latest schedule on the official Carolina BalloonFest site before you head out.
Close to the fest. Close to the lake.
Statesville sits just north of Lake Norman, so you can have a hometown festival in October and lake days all summer.
- Statesville
- Troutman
- Mooresville
- Lake Norman
Let's find your place near the fest.
Call or text me, or send a DM on Instagram with the word BALLOON. Whether you already live here or you're thinking about moving, I'll put together a list of homes that fit.
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