Quad Cities Hot Air Balloon Festival returns in 2021
“Once a year, almost every year, the Quad Cities holds a balloon festival where lots and lots of hot air balloons take off into the night sky as hundreds of people from all around sit on their cozy blankets, hold sparklers, eat snacks, and drink their refreshing beverages. They sit with their families and watch as the beautiful and vibrant balloons slowly float up into the darkness.
Last year they couldn’t do it because of Covid-19 but, this year they are planning on hosting that wonderful moment again. It seems like a lifetime since I saw those balloons drift away into the star scattered sky as they glowed with the scorching fire inside them. I can’t wait to hold one of those crackling sparklers, like tiny fireworks in my hands, as I lay and look at the twinkling starts. It’s awe inspiring.” - Grace Clark, (currently) age 11 from Rock Island, IL
Quad Cities Hot Air Balloon Festival presented by Rhythm City Casino
Friday, August 13 & Saturday, August 14, 2021
4 p.m. - Gates open
6 p.m. - Balloon Launch
(Dusk) 7:45-8:45 p.m. - Balloon Glow
*all activities are weather dependent. Launch and glow times may be delayed or canceled because of the weather.
Location
Rhythm City Casino Resort
Elmore Ave, Davenport, IA
Admission is FREE!
Please bring a donation for the Quad City Animal Welfare Center. Here is a list of recommended donations.
Most families bring blankets and chairs and set up for an evening to be amazed by the lovely balloons. You can bring your own food and drink, but there are many vendors and plenty to fill your bellies.
Kids will run around as the pilots and teams ready their balloon (this usually takes 10-15 minutes), then a Pilot Balloon (Pinball) will be released (it's a helium balloon) that tells the balloon teams which way the wind is blowing. Of course, many factors go into a successful launch: the wind, visibility, weather, and skill. It’s fun to see how the details come together to create a seemingly miraculous launch!
The Glow happens once it is dark and is almost as lovely as watching the balloons rise into the air at the launch.
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Hot Air Balloon Rides
Free flight balloon rides or tethered rides will not be offered at the festival this year; however, there are some nearby places to catch a hot air balloon ride.
Galena, Illinois: buyaballoonride.com
Cedar Rapids, Iowa: buzzardsgloryballoons.com
Indianola, Iowa: serenityballooning.com
Written by Meghan Cooley
Meghan Cooley moved to the Quad Cities from St. Charles, IL, as an Augustana College student over 20 years ago. She left briefly after graduation and then returned to work in admissions and then marketing at Augustana College for 18 years. She now works as a consultant for admissions marketing and social media. She also does copy editing and writes for the Quad City Moms Blog. Now a true Quad Cities transplant, Meghan lives in Rock Island with her husband, Luke (R.O.W.V.A. and Augustana grad and Modern Woodmen employee) and four boys. She loves living in the Quad Cities and finds it the perfect place to raise a family, plan a date night, and go on adventures.
Guest essay included: Grace Clark is an 11-year-old going into 6th grade in Rock Island. She loves science, nature, Minecraft, Pokemon, art, reading, tennis, her family, photography, gardening & Jesus! She is a gifted writer & in her free time writes poems and songs. Her newest goal is to learn to play a musical instrument.