about the Festival

Our Mission: To provide fundraising opportunities for local non-profit organizations while celebrating our community.

Welcome to the event that celebrates our community, the Festival of Balloons in Tigard! The hot air balloons are definitely the featured attraction of the Festival, but... it’s MORE than balloons! The Festival is a place for families and friends to gather, play and relax. Join us in the pre-dawn hours as hot air balloons launch into the morning sky (weather and pilot permitting). Spend the afternoon shopping at the craft and vendor booths, eating great food from local food vendors, and enjoying thrilling Funtastic carnival rides and games. Of course, it wouldn’t be the Festival of Balloons without the ever-impressive NW Natural Night Glow (weather permitting), main stage live music presented by Krista Britton Realtor & Movement Mortgage, Festival of Cars presented by Landmark Ford, Kid’s Zone and a whole lot more! Check out the Schedule of Events for complete details.

The Festival of Balloons is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization raising funds for many non-profit groups in Tigard while providing a premier family event for the entire community. Following the 2024 Festival, approximately $40,000 was raised by the following groups: Tigard Breakfast Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Tigard, Tigard High School Athletic Boosters, Tigard High Band Boosters, Mountain Wave Search & Rescue, Foundation for Tigard-Tualatin Schools, Tigard’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Boy Scouts, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, THS Clubs, Meals on Wheels, Mustang Wranglers and more.

tICKETS & Parking

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

GENERAL ADMISSiON

ADVANCE TICKET PURCHASE REQUIRED.  A 3-day weekend pass ~ unlimited access to the Festival for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday ~ is available for purchase online only. 6 and under are free. Tickets are sold exclusively through the Festival’s official website. We do not sell a single day pass.

What if I forget to buy my entrance ticket and show up at the gate? Don’t stress ~ grab your mobile device (phone) and locate the signage onsite with a QR code/direct link to our ticketing partner (Interactive Ticketing) page. Purchase your tickets with debit or credit card. Once you receive the text (optional ~ we suggest you do this!) or email confirmation with a barcode or personal ticket QR code, bring it to the gate where a volunteer will scan and exchange it for a TFOB bracelet. Buy online today and save time at the gate. Parking passes are not sold in advance due to limited availability.

• Ages 6 and under: Free

• Ages 7 and up: $17 total (valid all 3 days)
  Includes all applicable fees. No added charges at checkout.

2025 PRICING UPDATE
In compliance with a new federal law requiring all fees to be included in advertised ticket prices, our 3-Day Weekend Pass will now appear as $17 total. This reflects our standard $15 ticket price, plus applicable fees, now shown upfront instead of added at checkout. This change supports transparent pricing — no hidden fees, no surprises. What you see is what you pay.

Admission proceeds directly support our non-profit event volunteers.

PARKING - TFOB PARKING LOT IS OPTIONAL

Close, convenient parking is available at the festival general parking lot, located at the Tigard Swim Center entrance (8680 SW Durham Road).

• $15 per day

• Debit, Credit, or Apple Pay only – no cash

• Parking at the Festival Lot is optional

• Parking fee does not include admission into the Festival

• Parking at the general lot is first come, first serve

• The Festival does not pre-sell parking passes, and space is limited

New for 2025! ADA Parking Entrance Now on 92nd Avenue

Guests with a valid DMV-issued ADA permit can now access close, convenient parking inside the park via 92nd Avenue for a daily fee of $15 per vehicle (subject to availability) + festival admission. This reserved area offers excellent views of the morning balloon launches and night glow (weather permitting), right from your vehicle (limited spaces).

Festival Admission Required - A valid festival bracelet must be worn at all times while on the premises. Children 6 and under are free. All guests ages 7 and up must purchase a 3-day, $17 festival admission in advance.  Plan ahead and purchase your tickets early for a smooth arrival experience!  Guests without a QR code ready at the checkpoint will be asked to pull aside and wait for assistance.

We expect high demand during peak times (morning balloon launches and late afternoon/evening). We encourage you to plan ahead and consider alternative transportation such as public transit, carpooling, walking, biking, scootering, or take a trail into Cook Family Park. There are several entry points, including access via the footbridge from Tualatin.

For a visual reference, check out the Cook Family Park Access Map for neighborhood trail access and entry points.

Parking fees benefit our amazing non-profit event volunteers from both the Tigard Rotary Club and THS Athletic Boosters.

Shuttle

SHUTTLE (Optional)

It's a brief walk down the hill to the festival grounds or catch a Shuttle, brought to you by Beach Hut Deli. TFOB Shuttle is ran by the Tigard HS Athletic Booster Club as a fundraiser.

• $2/person (small children ride free on a lap)

• Debit, Credit, or Apple Pay only – no cash.

ADMISSION LOCATIONS

• The Festival has three admission tents for easy access from multiple entry points:

  • Main Admission Tent – Located at the southwest corner of Tigard High School’s athletic field near 92nd & Waverly. This entrance primarily serves those who park at the high school or walk in from neighborhoods along Durham Road.

  • East Admission Tent – Located on the east side of Cook Family Park, near the toddler playground and butterfly garden. Accessible via the trail from Tualatin Community Park or from 85th Avenue.

  • West Admission Tent – Located at the west end of Cook Family Park, near the basketball and sand volleyball courts. Accessible from the Riverwood Lane entrance in the Cook Park neighborhood.

• Cook Family Park Access Map (click to open a map of Cook Family Park access points).

Stay in Touch

Don’t miss out on up-to-date information about the Festival including morning and Night Glow launch details. Follow us on Facebook.

WHERE ARE THE BALLOONS?

We do not offer any balloon flights during the Festival; however, we do offer free tethered rides for all ages each morning at no additional cost (weather and pilot permitting). Visit Schedule of Events for tethering times and follow us on Facebook for day of balloon activity status.

Weather and pilot permitting, balloons will only be onsite for morning launches from 5:45-6:15am (balloons may be visible in the sky longer depending on wind speed), tether rides (6:30-7:30am or as long as fuel lasts and weather permits) and Night Glow (sunset). Enjoy a number of other Festival attractions in between these hours.

Why are balloons only onsite in the morning and evening? Hot air balloons can only fly in stable air and no rain (including foreseeable rain). During the day, the sun heats the earth, which creates thermals making it unstable for balloons to fly.

Where do the balloons fly in the morning? Balloons will follow the direction of the wind and for the Tigard Festival of Balloons that wind needs to be blowing generally South to avoid populated areas to the North. Look for the balloons over Tigard, Tualatin, Sherwood, Wilsonville, Aurora or Woodburn.