Balloon Festival Provides Spectacular Show

10th Annual Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival Do-Not-Miss Event

CATHEDRAL CITY — The 10th Annual Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival got underway Friday, and it did not disappoint. If you missed out, don’t fret, the festival continues through Sunday.

It is no surprise that this Hot Air Balloon Festival has grown over its short time span from attracting several thousand attendees locally from its inception in 2015 to bringing in more than 25,000 regional attendees. Most attendees are from outside of Cathedral City and the Coachella Valley generating tremendous interest from the California coast and beyond. The word has spread.

In this fourth year as presenting sponsor, Agua Caliente Casinos launched their custom balloon to kick off the festivities. In addition to the iconic hot air balloon launches across the valley, Agua Caliente Casinos has a suite of festivities planned to celebrate all weekend including, live entertainment, themed beverage and dining offerings, an after-party, and much more.

“We are proud to be the presenting sponsor to such an important annual event in the Coachella Valley. Every November, people come from all over the world to witness the hot air balloons take flight and to experience the beauty these magnificent balloons bring to our clear desert skies,” said Senior Director of Marketing Pearl Aguinaldo. “We welcome festival goers to any of our three Agua Caliente Casino properties throughout the weekend to unwind in between festival events and to enjoy the world-class gaming, entertainment and amenities that each casino offers.”

The festival weekend begins 6A-8A on Friday, November 22 with a Hot Air Balloon Launch & Competition at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage showcasing their signature balloon. Free for spectators to watch, the Hot Air Balloons will take flight at 7A. The first evening of the festival will feature the official 10th Anniversary Festival Kick Off from 4P-8P at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater with live entertainment by DJ Alf Alpha followed by Abba Fab: The Premier Abba Experience, food trucks, a beer and wine garden, tethered hot air balloon rides (weather permitting), free showing of the movie UP, a drone light show and more.

Today, Saturday, Nov. 23, the festival continued with a Hot Air Balloon Launch and Competition Flight from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. at The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort and Spa. Free for spectators to watch, the Hot Air Balloons will take flight at 7 a.m. At 2 p.m., the Cathedral City Festival Lawn and Community Amphitheater will open with free entry for Agua Caliente Casinos ACE Club Members and Cathedral City Residents and will feature live entertainment, food trucks, a beer and wine garden, kids’ zone, tethered hot air balloon rides (weather permitting), artisan market and more. For those interested in the opportunity of taking a FREE Hot Air Balloon ride, Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City will be hosting “UP, UP, & AWAY” Free Play Drawings from 4P-7P on the Casino Floor for a chance to win up to $500 Free Play and a private Hot Air Balloon ride for two in the Agua Caliente Casinos balloon.

The Cathedral City Community Amphitheater will open its doors at 3 p.m. today for the weekend’s headline performance by LeAnn Rimes taking place at 5P with opening act Emily West at 4P. Tickets are still available for purchase here. Cathedral City residents and Agua Caliente Casino ACE Club members are invited to pick up a free ticket to the show at the ACE Club at Agua Caliente Cathedral City. The performance will be followed by a Balloon Glow, starting at 7P, at Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City where colorful and fun-shaped hot air balloons will light up the sky and twinkle to music. The Agua Caliente Casinos Hot Air Balloon Glow is free to attend and will also include face painting, balloon twister, outdoor games, giveaways, a live DJ, and a taco cart!

The celebration continues at Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City for the Agua Caliente Casinos Balloon Glow After Party which begins at 8:30 .m. and features a live performance by Dance Dance Evolution on the Agave Caliente Terraza as well as dining specials at Café One Eleven and Agave Caliente Tequila Bar. Admission is free and this is a 21+ event.

The festival concludes on Sunday, with a final Sunrise Balloon Launch from 6A-8A at The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort and Spa. Free for spectators to watch, the Hot Air Balloons will take flight at 7 a.m. with Hot Air Balloon Rides, available for purchase in advance (weather permitting).

Tickets for all events and pre-purchase activations are available here. The full schedule of events and more information is available on the 10th annual Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival website here.

 

Editor’s note: All photos courtesy of Warren Horton.