Two days for Falls City Hot Air Balloon Festival

Falls City doubles lift opportunities for balloon lift off

June 6, 2024Updated: June 6, 2024

By News Channel Nebraska

FALLS CITY - As it turns out, hot air balloon launches rely on ideal weather conditions for the most spectacular of mass lift offs and Falls City is doubling its chances this year with ascensions scheduled both Friday and Saturday evenings.

Falls City renewed the hot air balloon festival in 2019 after a 24-year hiatus. The event drew a crowd of 4,000, just 500 people shy of the city’s entire population. In the years that followed, organizers refined logistics for a large crowd at Brenner Field, but weather remains a potential show stopper.

Falls City Chamber and Main Street Director Amber Holle said she has learned that the weather forecast that really matters is the one at the moment of the main event.

Holle: “We need less than 10 mph wind to get these balloons up. Obviously, it’s safety for the pilots and the riders in the balloon, so it’s very … very certain weather conditions that we need and lately we live in a very windy place. So, it’s challenging, but Mother Nature, she does what she wants.”

Falls City has responded with three bands, inflatable obstacle course, beer gardens and food trucks. Lift offs for 10 balloons are scheduled both Friday and Saturday evenings, June 14-15. This year will also feature a mega kite show.

Holle: “I think, even if the wind is a little too strong for the hot air balloons there will still be lots of family fun to be had, but we’re crossing our fingers that everything is going to work out well and we’re going to be able to get some balloon flights off this year.”

Balloon glows are scheduled at sunset both nights and fireworks are on Saturday.

Friday