This weekend, look up at the sky. It won’t be a bird, nor a plane, and it won’t even be Superman. It’ll be 150 hot-air balloons.
The International Balloon Festival of Saint Jean-sur-Richelieu (officially called “International de montgolfières”) is the largest gathering of balloons in Canada. The week-long event caters to the entire family and is an easy 40-minute drive off the island of Montreal.
In what started off as a balloon festival, the event has grown to host food vendors, bar outlets, live bands, theatre and magic performances, and activities.
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Plus, a pretty impressive lineup of musical guests that includes Ludacris, Charlotte Cardin, Jason Derulo, Billy Talent, and more.
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The nine-day festival also offers guests the chance to ride in a hot-air balloon over the southwest courtesy of three Quebec air balloon companies: Balad’Air, La Magie de l’Air, and Montréal Montgolfières.
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The festival also offers yoga inside floating hot-air balloons as well as both nightly launches and early morning shows, some fleets going as early as 6 am as the sun begins to rise.
If a sky full of balloons isn’t enough for you, the fest also includes an obstacle course, a petting zoo, amusement park rides, a skate park, and virtual reality games.
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General admission passports (for all nine days) are available to the festival starting at $64 for children and $104 for adults. Daily passes range from $40 to $54, depending on which musical guest is headlining. Hot-air balloon flights start at $344 for six-hour trips, and hot-air yoga costs $28.
International de montgolfières
When: August 13 to 21
Time: 6 am to 1 am (varies)
Where: 5 Chemin de l’Aéroport, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
Price: Various