Balloons Over Letchworth

05/30/2026

Looking for something fun to do with the kids today? We will be here all day! Come on out! 10am-3pm. We hope to see you there!

Flying Objects Kid's Day is this Saturday! Do you have your tickets yet? It will be a great day - filled with inspirational aviation related displays and activities for your kiddos.

See you here! 👉 https://www.eventsprout.com/event/flying_objects2026

📆 https://www.facebook.com/share/1BTQWoyvjZ/

05/24/2026

🎈Our thanks to pilots and crews for traveling from all over the northeast to join us this weekend.

💪🏼To our own crew who volunteered their time to set up balloons to be ready to fly.

🌲To the park staff who supported the event behind the scenes.

🏡To RE/MAX, a faithful sponsor who helped cover some of our expenses.

👏🏼And to all those who came out to support us through purchasing merchandise. We hope to see many of you at our launches and smaller events throughout the rest of the season.

🇺🇸Finally, we join our fellow Americans this weekend remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice to allow us the freedoms to do things like fly hot air balloons from state parks. We honor them and their families this Memorial Day weekend! 🇺🇸

05/23/2026

05/23/2026

Saturday morning (May 23rd) update: Balloons will remain on the ground Saturday morning. Winds are forecast to be far too strong to fly. We’re open to an inflation if conditions permit, but no flights Saturday morning. Our understanding is that Friends of Letchworth still will be on site with coffee and donuts from a nearby bakery for sale for very low cost if you do come out to the field!

05/22/2026

FAQ: “Will the balloons fly? Should I come to the field? If I do, will I see a launch?
Answer: we will launch *if we deem it safe at the time to do so. Safety is absolutely our highest priority!* See below for more details.
****Friday PM launch info, and weekend update:**** Friday evening launch** window is 6:30-7:45pm. This means that if the balloons launch, it will be sometime within that window. Current weather forecasts indicate marginal wind speeds for hot air balloons. Balloons require *very calm surface winds* to launch. In general, the lower the surface wind speed, the better. A host of other factors are important when we assess weather. As pilots, tonight our plan is to be on site prepared to launch if conditions allow. Pilot briefing time is 5:45pm, and we will assess conditions at that time. For those looking ahead to Saturday, we will assess Saturday morning and evening weather after operations conclude Friday evening. Our standard practice is to make go/no-go decisions within a couple of hours of flight time, based on the most updated aviation forecasts. Visit the Balloons Over Letchworth website for more information about hot air balloon rides and operations. Remember that throughout the season, launches are accessible and free to the public (the park charges $10/car vehicle usage fee between 9am and 5pm.) Flight status is updated daily at our weather status line. **Memorial Day weekend flights are scheduled to launch from the more spacious Archery Field. The rest of the year, our ride balloons launch from the Upper-Middle Falls picnic area. **

05/21/2026

👀👀🎈

05/21/2026

⚠️ This weekend’s weather forecast remains unsettled, and hot air balloon launches are highly dependent on wind and conditions! We’ll be monitoring the weather closely and staying hopeful. 🎈

More than a dozen balloons are scheduled to launch from the Archery Field at Letchworth State Park throughout Memorial Day weekend, weather permitting. Go/no-go decisions are typically made just a few hours before launch times.

Scheduled launch windows are:
Friday, May 22: Evening launch (6:30–7:45 PM)
Saturday, May 23: Morning launch (6:00–7:00 AM)
Saturday, May 23: Evening launch (6:30–7:45 PM)
Sunday, May 24: Morning launch (6:00–7:00 AM)

☀️If launches don’t happen this weekend, our ride balloons fly all season long near the Upper-Middle Falls area — and launches are always free to watch.

‼️Follow Balloons Over Letchworth and Letchworth State Park social media pages for weather and launch updates throughout the weekend.

We hope to see you this weekend — or sometime this season! 🎈

📸: Keith Walters Photography

05/11/2026

Drifting through the Middle Falls mist. Such a peaceful morning!

Photo of balloon from ground, credit: Rich Parton.

04/22/2026

Whether it’s at the Memorial Day weekend balloon rally, or at any day throughout the season, it’s always a thrill to watch the balloons go up!

04/15/2026

🌤️🎈 Hot Air Balloon Rally at Letchworth is Almost Here!

As warmer days arrive and winter fades, we’re excited for ballooning season - and the upcoming Memorial Day weekend rally at Letchworth State Park! (May 22-May 24)

If you’re planning to catch the balloons, here are the expected launch windows:

🕕 Morning Launches
Saturday & Sunday: 6:00 AM – 7:00 AM

🌅 Evening Launches
Friday & Saturday: 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM

⏱️ Important to know:
Launches may happen at any point within these windows and are completely weather dependent. Balloon flights are not guaranteed and may be delayed or canceled, even at the last minute.

🌿 Come ready to relax and take in the beauty of Letchworth State Park. If conditions line up just right, you might catch the unforgettable sight of colorful balloons drifting across the sky - set against one of New York’s most stunning natural backdrops!

✨ When everything comes together, it’s truly magical. We hope to see you there!

** Final note: Remember, between 9am and 5pm, the park charges a $10 per vehicle fee to enter.

📸: Jamie Reihman