The Bluff International Balloon Festival is an annual, free event held over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend in Bluff, Utah, featuring hot air balloons launching over local sandstone landscapes and the Valley of the Gods. The event includes early morning flights, a Navajo Taco supper, and community art events. If you plan to be in the area over MLK weekend, I wouldn't miss this event.

Every year over MLK weekend, each balloon is sponsored by a local Bluff business — and I was incredibly honored to be invited to fly with a sponsor I know through my job. It’s an experience I’ll truly never forget — i’m just happy. They actually got me in a balloon and I didn’t chicken out lol. Forever thankful to my pilot Bryan for getting us up and down safely.

Endlessly grateful for this experience… and I might officially be a Southwest balloon chaser now 🤭

🗓 If you’re hoping to attend next year:

• Flights take place Friday & Saturday over Bluff

• Sunday ascension happens in Valley of the Gods

• Always held the weekend before MLK weekend

• Flights are reserved for sponsors only and private flights are not available

There is truly nothing like witnessing balloons flying in Valley of the Gods. If you're hoping to spectate, you can only drive about half way around before the road becomes one way. Keep this in mind so you don't go too far and have to track miles and miles around again. The best place to watch is right around in HERE.