Quad Cities Balloon Festival

07/11/2026

🎈 BALLOONFEST IS HERE! 🎈

Before we get this party started, we want to take a moment to share something important — please read and share!

Behind this entire event is a team of just 5 board members and 3 volunteers. That’s it. EIGHT people who spend an entire year planning, organizing, and pouring their hearts into this event — all completely unpaid — because they love this community and believe in what this festival stands for. 💛

No paid staff. No social media department hiding in a trailer somewhere. Just a group of dedicated, slightly crazy volunteers who live for the magic of balloon season! 🥽

🙏 A NOTE ABOUT WEATHER
We pray every single year that Mother Nature is on our side — and most of the time she shows up for us! But sometimes she has her own ideas. ⛅ All balloon activities are weather dependent and we will always do our best to communicate any changes as quickly as we can. Please be patient with us — we are watching the skies just as closely as you are!

📶 A NOTE ABOUT UPDATES
We will post updates as fast as we possibly can, but please understand — we are out there RUNNING this event! WiFi can be spotty at the field, and sometimes we simply don’t have information yet to share. We promise we are not holding out on you — we’re probably launching balloons, wrangling vendors, managing parking, or running around like caffeinated squirrels trying to keep it all together! 🐿️☕

💕 A NOTE ABOUT KINDNESS
This team works incredibly hard all year long to bring this FREE event to our community. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out kindly — there is a real, exhausted, passionate volunteer on the other side of this screen who is doing their absolute best. We are always happy to help but please be kind to the people who make this magic happen for you every year. ❤️

Thank you for your patience, your grace, and for being part of the Quad Cities Balloon Festival family. Now let’s go have an AMAZING weekend! 🎈✨

07/11/2026

🎈🚘 SATURDAY IS HERE! 🚘🎈

Join us TODAY at the Rhythm City Casino Hot Air Balloon Festival for an unforgettable day of family fun—and don’t miss one of today’s biggest attractions: our FREE Car Show! Whether you have a classic, muscle car, truck, Jeep, motorcycle, or custom ride, we’d love to have you join us. There is NO entry fee, NO pre-registration required, and you can simply show up! The car show runs from 2:00–5:30 PM right on the balloon launch field.

Enjoy live music from CraZy-X, delicious food vendors, the Kids Zone with bounce houses, hot air balloons, tethered rides, and our spectacular Balloon Glow Finale at dusk!

❤️ Best of all, all profits from this event go directly to the QC Veterans Outreach Center, helping support local veterans in our community.

🎈 Please note: Balloon launches and tethered balloon rides are weather dependent and may be delayed or canceled if conditions are not safe for flight.

🎪 SATURDAY TIMELINE 🎪

🚘 2:00–5:30 PM — FREE Car Show (No registration required!)
🎪 3:00 PM — Gates Open
🍔 3:00–9:00 PM — Food Vendors
🎈 3:30–9:00 PM — Kids Zone / Bounce Houses
🎸 4:00–8:00 PM — Live Music by CraZy-X
🎈 6:00 PM — Balloon Launch*
🎈 After Launch — Tethered Balloon Rides Begin*
🌅 Dusk (approx. 7:45–8:45 PM) — Balloon Glow Finale

*Balloon activities are weather dependent.

Bring your family, invite your friends, and come help us wrap up an incredible weekend while supporting an amazing cause. We can’t wait to see you there! 🎈✨

07/11/2026

Weather Update: 🎈

At this time, we are on a 45-minute weather hold for the balloon launch.

Safety is always our top priority. Hot air balloons cannot safely fly in high winds or when there is a possibility of rain, as these conditions can make launches and landings extremely dangerous for both pilots and passengers.

The five of us volunteers who organize this event, along with our incredible pilots and crews, are doing everything we can to make this festival as enjoyable as possible while keeping everyone’s safety in mind. We know delays can be disappointing, and we truly appreciate your patience, compassion, and understanding as we wait to see if conditions improve.

Thank you for supporting the Quad City Balloon Festival—we’ll provide another update as soon as we have one! 🎈❤️

07/10/2026

🎈🎶 TODAY’S THE DAY! 🎶🎈

The Rhythm City Casino Hot Air Balloon Festival is officially here! Join us tonight and tomorrow for TWO nights of family fun, hot air balloons, live music, delicious food, and memories for all ages!

📍 Rhythm City Casino — Davenport, IA
🎟️ Admission is FREE! Instead of a ticket, we kindly ask for a donation benefiting the QC Veterans Outreach Center or Kings Harvest Pet Rescue.

🚗 Don’t forget — Saturday features our Car Show on the Launch Field from 2:00–5:30 PM! Bring out your favorite ride and enjoy an afternoon of cars, balloons, and fun.

🙌 Want to help make the festival happen? It’s not too late to volunteer! You can still sign up online, or simply come volunteer the day of — no registration required. All volunteers receive a FREE Quad City Balloon Fest T-shirt as a thank you for helping make this event possible! 👕

🎈 Please note: Balloon launches and tethered balloon rides are weather dependent and may be adjusted or canceled if conditions are not safe for flight.

🎪 EVENT TIMELINE 🎪

🔥 FRIDAY, JULY 10
🎪 4:00 PM — Gates Open
🍔 4:00–9:00 PM — Food Vendors
🎈 4:00–9:00 PM — Kids Zone / Bounce Houses
🎸 5:00–8:00 PM — DJ
🎈 6:00 PM — Balloon Launch*
🎈 After Launch — Tethered Balloon Rides Begin*
🌅 Dusk (approx. 7:45–8:45 PM) — Magical Balloon Glow

🚗 SATURDAY, JULY 11
🚘 2:00–5:30 PM — Car Show on the Launch Field
🎪 3:00 PM — Gates Open
🍔 3:00–9:00 PM — Food Vendors
🎈 3:30–9:00 PM — Kids Zone / Bounce Houses
🎸 4:00–8:00 PM — Live Music by CraZy-X
🎈 6:00 PM — Balloon Launch*
🎈 After Launch — Tethered Balloon Rides Begin*
🌅 Dusk (approx. 7:45–8:45 PM) — Balloon Glow Finale

*Balloon activities are weather dependent.

Bring your family, invite your friends, and come enjoy one of the Quad Cities’ favorite summer events! We can’t wait to see everyone there! 🎈✨

07/10/2026

FUN for the whole family. Don’t miss this year’s event. July 10th & 11th 2026. Welcome to the Quad Cities Balloon Festival, a cherished annual tradition that lights up the skies and hearts of the Quad Cities region! Held every summer at Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport, Iowa, this family-...

07/09/2026

We still need volunteers for his weekend!

🎈 WE NEED YOU — Volunteer with Us at the Quad Cities Balloon Festival! 🎈
Want to be part of the magic? We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make our 2026 Quad Cities Balloon Festival an unforgettable experience for our community!
No experience necessary — just a positive attitude and a love for your community. As a volunteer, you'll get an inside look at the festival, meet amazing people, and help create memories that last a lifetime.
🙋 How to get involved:
Head to our website to sign up: https://quadcitiesballoonfestival.com/
We truly could not do this without the support of our incredible volunteers. Come be a part of something special! ❤️

FUN for the whole family. Don’t miss this year’s event. July 10th & 11th 2026. Welcome to the Quad Cities Balloon Festival, a cherished annual tradition that lights up the skies and hearts of the Quad Cities region! Held every summer at Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport, Iowa, this family-...

07/08/2026

🎈 QUAD CITIES BALLOON FESTIVAL 2026 🎈
📅 July 10th & 11th, 2026
📍 Rhythm City Casino | 7077 Elmore Ave, Davenport, IA 52807
⏰ Friday doors open at 4:00 PM | Saturday car show starts at 2:00 PM
🌟 Until after dusk & the nightly balloon glow!
🎟️ FREE ADMISSION!
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Get ready for one of the most magical weekends in the Quad Cities! The Quad Cities Balloon Festival is BACK and we can't wait to see you there! Bring the whole family for a weekend packed with hot air balloons, food, entertainment, and memories that will last a lifetime! 💛
A portion of ALL proceeds benefits the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center.
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🎈 TETHERED HOT AIR BALLOON RIDES
Weather permitting, enjoy a tethered hot air balloon ride!
• $20 per person
• First come, first served — no reservations
• Tickets not sold in advance
• Availability is weather dependent
• Look for our banner at the event for the tether ride line up location!
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🎡 KIDS ZONE
The Kids Zone is back with UNLIMITED bounce house fun all day long!
• $10 wristband for ages 5 and up
• $5 wristband for ages 4 and under
• Plus a balloon artist & face painter!
• Kona Ice 🧊
• Henna Tattoos 🎨
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🎶 ENTERTAINMENT
• Friday — DJ with Master Entertainment 🎵
• Saturday — Live Band — CraZy-X (4:00 PM – 8:00 PM)
• Saturday — Car Show (starts at 2:00 PM)
• Both nights — Spectacular Balloon Glow at dusk! 🌟
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🌮 FOOD & SHOPPING
Enjoy amazing local food trucks AND a fantastic variety of non-food vendors! Whether you're hungry or looking to shop, there's something for everyone!
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Bring your family, bring your friends, and come make some memories with us! We can't wait to see you July 10th & 11th at Rhythm City Casino in Davenport! 🎈

07/08/2026

We’ve seen some confusion circulating about our car show, so we wanted to clear things up! 🚗🎈 There is NO registration required and NO admission fee to attend the car show. Just bring your vehicle (or come as a spectator) and join us! The show will take place Saturday, July 11, from 2:00–5:30 PM at Rhythm City Casino in Davenport, IA. We know there have been some spam comments and misinformation online, and we’re doing our best to remove them as quickly as possible. If you have any questions feel free to message us or Facebook, Instagram, or email us. A huge thank you to everyone who’s helped spread the correct information—we can’t wait to see you there!