The Winthrop Balloon Roundup as you have known it is over. The Winthrop Chamber of Commerce has taken over the event. Seattle Ballooning, our balloons, our glow balloons, and our ride flights will not be there.
Update: The Chamber now runs this event. Seattle Ballooning is not attending. Expect only a few balloons in 2027. Contact the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce before you plan a trip.
Last updated: August 2026
Festival Update
For 30 years, the Winthrop Balloon Roundup was not an official festival. It was an informal gathering of balloon pilots. Whoever wanted to show up could show up and fly. No host, no organizer, no gatekeeper.
This year, the balloon pilots and the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce could not agree on how the event should be run. The Chamber has decided to take it over and run it as its own official event.
Seattle Ballooning will not be there. Neither will our balloons, our glow balloons, our ride flights, or the open, pilot-run gathering you have known.
Seattle Ballooning brought one third to one half of the balloons each year, depending on the year, and supplied passengers for three to four additional pilots so they could afford to make the trip. None of those balloons will be at the Chamber's event. The balloons in the photos you have seen from past years were largely ours and those of the pilots who flew alongside us. Expect only a few balloons in 2027.
If you are planning a trip to Winthrop this winter, contact the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce directly and ask how many balloons it has confirmed and what is planned. We are not involved and cannot answer for it.
Quick Facts
About the Festival
For 30 years, Winthrop was not an official festival. It was an informal gathering of balloon pilots. Whoever wanted to show up could show up and fly. No host, no organizer, no gatekeeper. A few years ago the Chamber of Commerce started providing propane as an incentive for pilots to make the trip, and that was the extent of its involvement. The openness is what made it special, and it is why the pilots kept coming back.
It was called the Balloon Roundup because in the 90s the commercial pilots would all try to get together to go fly somewhere and stay current per FAA requirements. Every pilot paid their own way, brought their own equipment, and each morning it was their own call whether to sleep in or fly. There was no participation fee and no invitation. That is what made it Washington State's only winter hot air balloon gathering.
In 2020 and 2021, only a handful of balloons showed up and about 100 people came out to watch them fly. Starting in 2022, Seattle Ballooning began marketing the event in a serious way. We worked with photographers and drone professionals, produced the photos and video you have seen everywhere, ran the social campaigns, and put a massive amount of work into telling the public that they could come to a snowy mountain town and fly in a hot air balloon. Those efforts turned a crowd of 100 into thousands of people coming to Winthrop every winter to watch and to fly.
We were the largest balloon ride operator at the event, brought a third to half of the balloons depending on the year, supplied passengers to three to four smaller operators so they could afford to attend, hauled over our older balloons specifically for the night glow, helped organize which balloons would glow, and lost money every year doing it because we loved that gathering and the people who came to it.
This year, the balloon pilots and the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce could not agree on how the event should be run. The Chamber has decided to take it over and run it as its own official event. Seattle Ballooning will not be there. Neither will our balloons, our glow balloons, our ride flights, or the open, pilot-run gathering you have known.
Be clear-eyed about what that means. The balloons in the photos on this page were largely ours and those of the pilots who flew alongside us. Without them, expect only a few balloons at the Chamber's 2027 event. If you are planning a trip to Winthrop this winter, contact the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce directly and ask how many balloons it has confirmed and what is planned. We are not involved and cannot answer for it.
The open winter balloon gathering is not going away. We are creating a new winter festival closer to Seattle: an open event for pilots, run by pilots. Same open format, same community feel, same photographers and drone crews telling the story, and a shorter drive for everyone west of the mountains. Details are coming together now and we will post them here as soon as they are confirmed.
Thank you to every pilot, crew member, volunteer, photographer, and family who stood in the cold with us in Winthrop over the years. That is the part we are keeping.
2027 Winthrop Balloon Festival
Seattle Ballooning is not part of the 2027 event and cannot publish a schedule for it. Dates, launch site, glow, and balloon count are the Chamber's to confirm.
Visitor Guide
If you decide to make the trip anyway, here is what past years looked like. Confirm every detail with the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce, and expect far fewer balloons than you see in the photos on this page.
In past years the launch field behind the Winthrop Inn was where the action happened. Confirm the 2027 launch site with the Chamber. Watching a balloon inflate from a few feet away is an experience in itself, and the ridge along Highway 20 offers a sweeping panorama of the valley for anything in the air.
Balloon inflation begins around 6:30–7:00 am. Arriving before inflation starts means you'll see the entire process, from flat envelope on the ground to fully inflated nine-story balloon ready for flight. Don't just show up for the launch itself; the inflation is half the spectacle.
The soft winter light at sunrise makes for extraordinary photos. In peak years, wide-angle lenses captured the scale of many balloons inflating side by side. With only a few balloons expected in 2027, a telephoto lens against the mountains will serve you better.
Early March in Winthrop is cold, typically in the 20s and 30s Fahrenheit at launch time. Layer up with thermal underlayers, a warm jacket, gloves, and a hat. Good waterproof boots are wise if there's snow on the ground. The burner on a balloon radiates surprising warmth if you're standing nearby.
In past years, the best parking for the morning launches was at the Methow Valley Thriftway, directly across the street from the Winthrop Inn launch field, and downtown parking for the Saturday glow filled by 4:30 pm. Confirm 2027 parking with the Chamber.
Balloon events are extremely family-friendly. Children love watching the enormous balloons inflate and the loud roar of the burners. If your kids are the reason for the trip, ask the Chamber what is confirmed for 2027 before you book, or bring them to see us fly in Enumclaw in front of Mt. Rainier.
Saturday Evening
If the morning launches were the spectacle of the festival, the Saturday evening Balloon Glow was its soul. As daylight faded over the Methow Valley, vintage hot air balloons inflated along the streets of historic downtown Winthrop, lighting up from within each time a pilot fired the burner.
The glow was put on for free by the pilots. Because the glow area is a narrow downtown street, Seattle Ballooning, Balloon Depot, and Snohomish Balloon Ride hauled over old antique envelopes instead of the balloons that flew each morning, some of the oldest still-flying envelopes in the country. Seattle Ballooning helped organize which balloons would glow each year.
In 2027, Seattle Ballooning's vintage glow balloons will not be in Winthrop. Whether the Chamber's event includes a glow, and with what balloons, is a question for the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce.
About the Balloon Glow in Past Years →Past Years
Seattle Ballooning was the largest hot air balloon ride operator at the festival for the last 10 years. We brought a third to half of the balloons depending on the year, supplied passengers for 3 to 4 additional pilots so they could afford to attend, and carried the majority of the passengers who flew each morning. We did the majority of the marketing, hired the photographers and drone crews, and brought our vintage balloons over the pass for the glow.
None of that will be at the Chamber's 2027 event. If you booked or were planning to fly with Seattle Ballooning, we fly from our home field in Enumclaw, Washington, in front of Mt. Rainier, and would love to see you there. Visit seattleballooning.com to book.
Want to Fly?
For years, Seattle Ballooning took passengers aloft over the Methow Valley each festival morning, launching from the Winthrop Inn and following the valley drainage winds south to land near the Winthrop Airport. Those flights are not happening in 2027. We are not offering Winthrop flights, and we cannot speak for whether anyone else will.
We are still flying. Our home field is in Enumclaw, Washington, in front of Mt. Rainier, with shared and private flights year round. Every pilot who flew with us at Winthrop flies with us at home.
We are also creating a new winter festival closer to Seattle, an open event for pilots run by pilots, with the same any-pilot-welcome format that made Winthrop what it was. Follow us and we will let everyone know about the new winter balloon festival closer to Seattle.
Winter Activities
Winthrop and the Methow Valley are worth a winter trip on their own. If you go, plan the weekend around the valley, not the balloons.
The Methow Valley Sport Trails system is one of the largest groomed cross-country ski networks in North America, with over 200 kilometers of trails winding through open meadows and forests. All skill levels are welcome, and rentals are available in Winthrop and Mazama.
Miles of snowshoe trails wind through the Okanogan National Forest surrounding Winthrop. The valley offers easy terrain for beginners and more challenging backcountry routes for experienced adventurers. Rentals are available locally.
Winthrop has an outdoor ice skating rink in the town center that is typically open during the festival weekend. It's a charming, quintessentially small-town winter experience right in the heart of the old western downtown.
Winthrop's historic old-west boardwalk is lined with boutique shops, galleries, and great restaurants. The town is small enough to explore entirely on foot and lively enough to keep you busy for a full afternoon. Pick up locally made gifts, artisan goods, and great food.
Winthrop and nearby Twisp have a surprisingly vibrant food and drink scene for towns their size. Warm up after a cold morning at the balloon launch with a hearty breakfast or coffee. Several local spots offer craft beer, wine, and comfort food that hit differently after a day in the winter air.
The Methow Valley is rich in winter wildlife. Deer, eagles, coyotes, and even the occasional moose are commonly spotted along the river corridor.
Where to Stay
In past years the festival weekend filled every room within 25 miles of Winthrop. Before you book for 2027, confirm with the Chamber what is actually planned.
Vacation rentals are the most popular option for a Winthrop winter weekend, offering everything from cozy cabins to full homes that sleep large groups. The best properties within walking distance of downtown go first.
Winthrop has a handful of charming hotels, inns, and lodges right in town, ranging from rustic to boutique. Staying in Winthrop puts you within easy walking distance of downtown dining and the boardwalk.
The nearby town of Twisp, just 9 miles south of Winthrop, has its own selection of charming accommodations and is a great fallback if Winthrop is fully booked. Twisp has a strong arts community and good dining.
Getting Here
Winthrop is a 4.5-hour drive northeast of Seattle through some of Washington's most spectacular mountain scenery.
What Visitors Said in Past Years
These reviews are from flights with Seattle Ballooning at Winthrop in past years. Those flights are not happening in 2027.
"One of the coolest experiences ❤️"
"My first time in a hot air balloon and it was so worth it! John was an amazing pilot and we had a wonderful experience! I thought it was a bucket list item but I cant wait to do it again!"
"This was a super fun experience! What a hidden gem. This year I set forth a goal to explore more of Washington and Winthrop Balloon festival did not disappoint! This was a great getaway experience and a way to disconnect from the hustle and bustle. It's a kid friendly and pet friendly experience. If you have kids, make sure they are okay with outdoor experiences. Tons of trails around here that you can hike, bike, or ski on."
Frequently Asked Questions
The Winthrop Chamber of Commerce has taken over the event and is running it as its own. The open, pilot-run gathering known as the Winthrop Balloon Roundup is over. Seattle Ballooning is not participating. Contact the Chamber for dates and details of its event.
Expect only a few. Seattle Ballooning brought a third to half of the balloons each year and supplied passengers for 3 to 4 additional pilots. None of those balloons will be at the Chamber's 2027 event. Ask the Chamber how many balloons it has confirmed before you plan a trip.
The balloon pilots and the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce could not agree on how the event should be run. The Chamber has taken it over as its own official event. Seattle Ballooning, our balloons, our glow balloons, and our ride flights are not part of it.
Not with Seattle Ballooning. We are not offering Winthrop flights in 2027. We fly from our home field in Enumclaw, Washington, in front of Mt. Rainier. Book at seattleballooning.com.
That is a question for the Chamber. Seattle Ballooning's vintage glow balloons, and those of the pilots who glowed alongside us, will not be in Winthrop in 2027.
In past years, watching the launches and the glow was free. Confirm with the Chamber what it plans for 2027.
Yes. Seattle Ballooning is creating a new winter festival closer to Seattle: an open event for pilots, run by pilots, with the same any-pilot-welcome format. Follow Seattle Ballooning and we will let everyone know as soon as details are confirmed.
About 200 miles northeast, roughly a 4.5-hour drive. The scenic Highway 20 through the North Cascades is typically open in early March; check WSDOT conditions before you leave.
Yes. The Great Prosser Balloon Rally takes place each August in the Yakima Valley, and the Walla Walla Balloon Stampede is another popular summer event in Eastern Washington. Seattle Ballooning's new winter festival, closer to Seattle and run by pilots, will be announced soon.
