Opening Night Recap: A Fun Start to the 22nd Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival

The 2026 Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival presented by Columbia Southern University is officially underway, and opening night at OWA Parks & Resort brought a great start to the weekend. Festivalgoers filled Downtown OWA, enjoying a lively evening of music, food, shopping, and family-friendly activities.

The Junior Pilots Kids Zone was a hit with younger guests, while vendors and food trucks stayed busy serving up a wide variety of items and flavors. Live music on the Island Stage kept the energy up throughout the night, creating a fun and welcoming atmosphere across the resort.

As always, festival officials, our Balloon Meister, and Foley Fire Department closely monitored weather conditions throughout the evening. While some inclement weather presented challenges, adjustments were made to keep guests safe while still offering memorable moments. The drone show was moved up to allow attendees to enjoy it, and pilots were able to briefly inflate balloons for photo opportunities before winds increased. Crews then safely maneuvered the balloon envelopes back to the ground as conditions changed.

Looking ahead to Friday, the forecast may present additional challenges, but pilots will still meet at 5:30 AM as planned. A special thank you to Groovy Goat for providing breakfast for the pilots as they prepare for the day. Updates on morning flights will be shared on Facebook. If you want to know more about those flights and where to see them if weather permits, visit our website’s Balloons & Pilots page.

We know many attendees have questions throughout the event, and while we wish we could respond to each comment on our Facebook posts individually, the best way to keep everyone informed at the same time is through our official update posts. As decisions are made, we share them immediately on our Facebook page and update the schedule on our website to ensure the most accurate and timely information is available to all.

The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival remains a free community event, and we encourage everyone to come out, support our vendors, enjoy the entertainment, and experience all OWA Parks & Resort has to offer. While weather is always a factor in ballooning, our team is committed to making the most of every opportunity to create a fun and memorable experience for our community and visitors.