The city of Natchez makes a picturesque backdrop when the 41st annual Natchez Balloon Festival brings balloonists from all over the country to fly high above the Mississippi River—and the live bands, arts & crafts vendors, carnival rides, and fabulous festival food that fill Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens during this beloved fall festival. October 16—17, 2026.

The James Biglane Balloon Glow and fireworks show on Friday are always a show-stopper, as is a lineup of bands that this year includes Tonic, Journey from The Heart, Terrance Simien & Zydeco Express, Matthias Lattin, Sammy Qadan & The Second Hand Smokers, and the Chee Weez. The sight of hot air balloons suspended above the Mississippi River, when viewed from the two-hundred-foot-tall river bluffs, is not soon forgotten.

The Natchez Balloon Festival also includes a Sports Tent showing all the weekend's big games on big-screen TVs. Children's activities, carnival rides, and regional foods are always around, so it's up, up, and away you go to Natchez this weekend!

Ticket Info

(General admission and VIP packages available. Ticket sales are final–no refunds.)

Friday

• General admission: $20

Saturday

• General admission: $35 in advance, $45 day-of
• Saturday VIP: $130 in advance, $155 day-of

Weekend Pass

• General admission: $45 in advance, $55 day-of
• Weekend VIP: $325 in advance, $375 day-of
• Children ten and under are free.

VIP Tickets

VIP tickets provide access to the Cappy Stahlman Sponsor and VIP tent overlooking the Mississippi River with an open bar on Friday 10/16, private cash bar on Saturday, tables and chairs, and air-conditioned restrooms. The weekend VIP pass includes a dinner in the tent on Friday night.

*Please note: Carnival rides and access to the grounds requires a separate ticket, which can be purchased on-site.

Details

• Balloon flights at 7 am Friday, and 7:30 am Saturday and Sunday (weather permitting).
• Festival kicks off at 4 pm Friday and 11 am Saturday on the grounds of Rosalie Bicentennial Garden, 100 Orleans Street.
• Entry gates are located on Broadway Street, Orleans Street, and behind Rosalie. Pro tip: Buy your tickets in advance: Holders of pre-purchased tickets have access to a fast-track entry lane. No waiting required.

Please Note

There is a NO REFUND / NO EXCHANGE policy under any circumstances. We do not change the name on the tickets once sold. Third-party ticket sales or reselling of tickets for this event are strictly prohibited. Only tickets purchased directly through the official BonTempsTix event ticketing platform will be valid for entry. Any tickets obtained through unauthorized resale channels will be void and will not grant access to the event.

Hot air balloons do not take off from or land at the festival site. Their launch and landing locations are not known until the time of the flight and depend on weather conditions at that time.

More info: natchezballoonfestival.com