< Back Tin Mug / Water Bottle Previous Next

< Back Lapel Pins Previous Next

< Back 2026 Poster Designed by Nicole Goodbar Previous Next

Festival Committee Invites Artists to Create the Signature Poster and T-Shirt Design for the 23rd Annual Event FOLEY, AL – The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival Committee is excited to announce a Call for Artists to create the official poster and t-shirt artwork for the 23rd Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, taking place in 2027. This is a unique opportunity for artists to leave a lasting mark on one of the Gulf Coast's most celebrated annual events. The selected artwork will be featured on the festival's official commemorative poster, event merchandise, promotional materials, and marketing campaigns leading up to the 2027 festival. Artists are invited to submit original artwork that captures the spirit of the Gulf Coast while celebrating the festival's signature blend of hot air balloons, art, music, and coastal culture. Artwork Requirements Submitted artwork must meet the following guidelines: Artwork must be the artist's original creation - drawing, painting, graphic design, and/or a combination. AI-generated artwork will not be accepted. Designs should reflect the theme: Hot Air Balloons Art Music The Gulf Coast Artwork must include: 23rd Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival 2027 Foley, AL Final commissioned poster size will not exceed 18 inches by 24 inches. If selected, the artist agrees to relinquish ownership of the artwork. The selected artwork becomes the sole property of the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival and the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce and may be used in any manner deemed appropriate without additional compensation. The selected artist will receive a one-time commission of $500. The deadline for submissions is Thursday, October 1, 2026. Artwork may be delivered to: South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce 200 N. Alston Street Foley, AL 36535 Or mailed to: South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 1117 Foley, AL 36536 Artists with questions or those wishing to confirm their participation are encouraged to contact: Rachel Spear Director of Events South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce (251) 943-5550 Rachel@SouthBaldwinChamber.com "The artwork selected each year becomes part of the festival's legacy and helps tell the story of our community through creativity," said Rachel Spear, Director of Events for the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce. "We look forward to seeing fresh interpretations that capture the excitement, color, and energy that make the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival such a special experience." The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival Committee welcomes submissions from artists of all experience levels and looks forward to showcasing the talent and creativity found throughout the region and beyond. About the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival Hosted annually in Foley, Alabama, the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors from across the Southeast. The family-friendly festival features colorful hot air balloons, live entertainment, local artists and vendors, children's activities, and a celebration of the culture and hospitality of Alabama's Gulf Coast. The South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce proudly hosts the festival in partnership with the City of Foley and OWA Parks & Resort.

The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival has officially launched its online merchandise store, giving festival fans another chance to grab their favorite keepsakes from the 2026 event and past festival years while supplies last. Festival merchandise now available online includes a variety of collectible items such as festival t-shirts, lapel pins, teddy bears, and other souvenirs celebrating one of the Gulf Coast’s favorite annual traditions. Limited inventory from previous festival years is also available, making this a great opportunity for collectors and longtime festival supporters to complete their collections. The online merchandise shop is hosted through the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce’s online store platform and can be accessed through the festival website’s merchandise page. To help guests save on shipping, only one shipping fee will be charged when multiple items can fit within the same shipping container or box. Local customers also have the option to pick up their purchases in person at the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce office with no shipping charges. Festival officials encourage shoppers to carefully review their cart, item quantities, and shirt sizes before completing checkout. Questions before ordering can be directed to Rachel Spear, Events Director, at 251-943-5550 or by email at Rachel@SouthBaldwinChamber.com. The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival thanks the community for its continued support and looks forward to welcoming everyone back for the 2027 festival, scheduled for April 29 – May 1, 2027, in Foley, Alabama.

6:40 PM Saturday 5/2/26 Great news—our pilots are preparing to set up for a possible balloon glow! 🙌 They’re closely monitoring the wind and truly want to give everyone that beautiful glow experience tonight. 🔥 As always, safety comes first, so if winds pick up, we may shift to a “candlestick” display—still a fun and glowing moment for the crowd to enjoy! 🔥🎈 🚧 For everyone’s safety, please remain behind the barricades until the announcer invites guests onto the field. If you see people on the balloon field - these are the crews and our photographers. Thank you for your patience and positive vibes—let’s hope for a beautiful evening on the field! 💛 6 PM Saturday 5/2/26 Due to current wind conditions, tethered rides and the interactive balloon display will not take place this evening. Our pilots are meeting now (6:00 PM) with the Balloon Meister and festival officials to evaluate conditions for a possible balloon glow. This meeting typically takes about 30–45 minutes, and we’ll share an update as soon as it concludes. 🎶🍴🛍️ We appreciate your patience and hope you’re enjoying the festival—there’s still plenty of great food, vendors, and live entertainment happening throughout OWA! 11: 15 AM Saturday 5/2/26 🎈 Happy Saturday from the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival! After all the rain Friday night and into this morning, our amazing crews have been working hard to get the grounds ready—and we’re excited to welcome everyone at 12 PM today at OWA Parks & Resort! 🙌 We know many of you are asking about the Balloon Glow tonight. Here’s the honest answer—we can’t guarantee it just yet. Our pilots, Balloon Meister, festival committee, and local officials will meet around 6 PM to evaluate conditions and make the safest call. We wish we had a crystal ball to give you a definite yes or no, but we always leave that window open and do everything we can to put on the show for our community. 🎈 👉 We truly wish we could reply to each comment individually, but the best way we can keep everyone informed at the same time is through our official posts—please take a moment to read our latest update/press release for the most accurate and up-to-date information. In the meantime, there is so much to enjoy today! 🎶 Live music on the Island Stage 🛍️ Wonderful local vendors 🍴 Delicious food 🐾 Family-friendly fun throughout OWA Please take time to support our vendors, thank a volunteer when you see one, and enjoy all the hard work that goes into making this FREE event special. We are so grateful for your positive vibes, patience, and support—it truly means the world to us. Let’s make it a great Saturday at the 22nd Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival! 💛🎈 The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival presented by Columbia Southern University continues Saturday at OWA Parks & Resort, with a delayed opening at 12:00 p.m. (noon) as festival officials monitor weather conditions. Saturday morning balloon flights have been canceled due to wind and weather forecasts. At this time, we’re unable to guarantee hot air balloon activities on Saturday due to inclement weather predictions. This includes a festival favorite, the balloon glow. A final decision will be made on Saturday as conditions are assessed in real time. Our pilots will be on site and ready in case there is a large enough break in the weather to safely proceed, but it doesn’t look promising. If possible, we will have a balloon glow, but if the weather is unfavorable on Saturday at dusk, we will not, simply put. Following Friday’s weather-related cancellation, Saturday's forecast is showing cooler temperatures and the potential for improving conditions for all other festival activities, and we are excited to invite festivalgoers to the grounds for a day of family fun! While hot air balloons are the highlight of the festival, there is still plenty to enjoy! Guests can experience live music on the island stage, over 80 vendors, food trucks, family-friendly activities, and the Disc-Connected K9 Frisbee Dog Show, along with everything OWA Parks & Resort has to offer. And don’t forget our newly added Drone Show! See the Day's schedule here. Our festival committee emphasizes that safety remains the top priority, and decisions are made in collaboration with festival officials, the Balloon Meister, and safety partners to ensure the best possible experience when conditions allow. For the latest updates, guests are encouraged to visit our festival website and follow along on Facebook. We share information as soon as decisions are made so everyone receives timely and accurate updates. The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival remains a FREE community event, made possible by the support of sponsors, volunteers, vendors, and local partners. We look forward to welcoming everyone out to enjoy the day and make the most of the festival experience at OWA! A Short Note If you’re new to our hot air balloon event, here’s a helpful tip—balloons typically fly only at sunrise or near sunset, when winds are calm and predictable. Midday conditions—like heat, thermals, and shifting air—often make it unsafe to fly. We’re often asked why balloons aren’t flying during the day at the festival, and the answer is simple: it’s not safe. At the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, morning flights are reserved for sponsors. In the evening, guests can enjoy the popular balloon glow, where pilots inflate their balloons on the festival grounds for a beautiful, up-close experience (weather and wind permitting). When conditions allow and the balloons are secured, guests are often invited onto the balloon field to get an up-close look—something many find to be a highlight of the festival. While full flights don’t typically take place in the evening, a few pilots may offer tethered balloon rides. You can learn more about that here. Interested in becoming a sponsor? We’d love to have you—please reach out to Rachel Spear, Events Director. And if a full hot air balloon ride is on your bucket list, several of our experienced commercial pilots across the Southeast offer private flights. Visit our Balloons & Pilots page and scroll to the bottom for their contact information.