The Winthrop Balloon Festival · Saturday Evening
As night falls over the Methow Valley, historic hot air balloons inflate along the streets of downtown Winthrop and light up from within. The old west boardwalk becomes something completely extraordinary.
← Back to Festival GuideWhat is the Balloon Glow?
The Winthrop Balloon Glow is the Saturday evening centerpiece of The Winthrop Balloon Festival. As daylight fades over the Methow Valley, three to five enormous hot air balloons are inflated and tethered along the streets of historic downtown Winthrop, Washington.
Unlike the morning launches, where balloons rise and drift away over the mountains, the glow keeps every balloon close. Right in the middle of town. Each time a pilot fires their burner, the entire envelope lights up from within and pulses with warm orange and amber light against the winter sky.
The balloons stand nine stories tall. Watching one glow from ten feet away, hearing the roar of the burner and feeling the wave of heat wash over you, is something photographs can capture but never fully convey. It is one of those experiences that brings people back to Winthrop year after year.
Admission is completely free. No tickets, no wristbands, no registration required. You just show up.
The People Behind the Glow
The Winthrop Balloon Glow happens because a handful of balloon pilots choose to show up.
Every pilot who participates in the glow inflates their balloon along the streets of downtown Winthrop, fires their burner for the crowd, and stays through the entire evening as a volunteer.
The result is a festival built almost entirely on goodwill. Pilots who love to fly, a town that loves to host them, and thousands of visitors who come from across Washington to watch the balloons glow against the winter sky for free.
The Winthrop Chamber of Commerce provides propane for the event and coordinates closing the main street. The pilots bring the balloons, and the spectacle itself, the nine-story envelopes, the burner roar, the warm light spilling across the snow-covered boardwalk, comes together from both.
The pilots and crews are genuinely happy to talk. If you have questions about how ballooning works, what it takes to fly, or the history of a particular envelope, walk up and ask. Most pilots love sharing what they know, and the glow is one of the few places in the world where you can have that kind of conversation standing next to a nine-story balloon while it is still inflated.
Take a moment to thank the crew working around each balloon. They made the evening possible.
A Rare Sight
One of the quiet highlights of the Winthrop Balloon Glow is what you are actually looking at. Many of the balloons that inflate downtown are not modern sport balloons. They are vintage envelopes, some of the oldest still-flying hot air balloons in the United States.
Seattle Ballooning, the largest ride operator at the festival for the last 8 years, normally brings a collection of historic balloons to the glow each year. These envelopes date from the 1960s and 1970s, the early era of modern hot air ballooning in America. To see them inflated and glowing at night is to see a piece of aviation history that is still very much alive.
Seattle Ballooning will not be attending in 2027, but plans to be back in 2028.
In the years they attend, Seattle Ballooning also sets up a hot air balloon basket at the front of the street during the glow. Anyone can step inside, get a feel for what it is actually like to stand in a balloon basket, and take photos. It is a free, no-pressure experience and one of the most popular spots of the evening, especially for families and first-time visitors.
Most hot air balloons flying today are purpose-built modern sport envelopes. The vintage balloons at the glow are a different thing entirely. Heavier, shaped differently, and carrying the particular character of an era when ballooning was new and every flight was an adventure.
Plan Your Evening
Everything you need to know to make the most of the Balloon Glow.
For Photographers
The Balloon Glow is one of the most photogenic events in Washington State. Here's how to make the most of it.
The burst of light from a burner is bright and brief. Use burst mode or continuous shooting so you catch the peak of the glow. On manual, start around ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/60s and adjust from there. The light changes fast.
Get low and shoot upward to emphasize the scale of the balloon against the darkening sky. Being close to the balloon when the burner fires gives you the most dramatic glow. The crowd around the balloon adds great foreground context.
Wide angle (16–35mm) lets you capture an entire balloon with people around it for scale. Telephoto (70–200mm) is great for isolating the glowing fabric pattern. Try compressing the background to frame a balloon against the town lights.
With a tripod, long exposures can capture multiple burner firings in a single frame and create layered glow effects. Try 4–10 seconds and start your exposure in the pause between firings, then let the burner fire mid-shot.
Some of the best glow photos are not of the balloons at all. They are of people's faces lit orange by the glow, or silhouettes against the lit envelope. Look for children's expressions, couples, people reaching up toward the fabric.
If you spot a vintage balloon, look for seam details, patches, and the way older fabric diffuses light differently than modern materials. These balloons have real character that rewards a close look through a telephoto lens.
Common Questions
Yes. The Balloon Glow is a Saturday evening tradition at The Winthrop Balloon Festival and has been part of the event for many years. It is weather dependent, and wind or unsafe conditions can cancel it, but it takes place most years.
Yes, completely free. No tickets, no wristbands, no donations requested. The pilots are volunteers, the street is public, and the glow is open to everyone. Supporting the local restaurants and shops downtown is a great way to give back to the community.
No. Every pilot who participates in the Winthrop Balloon Glow does so as a volunteer. They bring their own equipment, inflate their balloons, and perform for the crowd entirely on their own time and at their own expense. The Winthrop Chamber of Commerce provides propane.
Many of the balloons at the glow date from the 1960s and 1970s, the early era of modern hot air ballooning. They are among the oldest still-flying envelopes in the country. Seeing them inflated and glowing in downtown Winthrop is a genuine piece of living aviation history.
The Winthrop Balloon Glow typically runs from 5:00 to 6:45 pm, wrapping up before 7:00 pm. Inflation begins around 5:00 pm and the balloons stay up and glowing for the full event. Arriving early gives you the best spot and lets you watch the inflation process.
It is one of the most family-friendly events in Washington State. Children love the scale of the balloons, the warmth of the burners, and the festive atmosphere of downtown Winthrop in the evening. Very young children may find the burner noise startling, so earplugs can help.
Cancellations are announced the day of the event, typically in the hours before the glow is scheduled to begin. Check with the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce for updates. Downtown Winthrop still has great dining and shopping even if the glow does not happen.
Yes. The balloons are inflated on a public street and the pilots and crews are genuinely approachable. Most pilots love talking about how ballooning works, the history of their envelope, and what it takes to fly. Walking up and asking questions is very much encouraged. Follow any guidance from the crew around the balloon and be mindful of the equipment.
Yes. Seattle Ballooning typically sets up a hot air balloon basket at the front of the street during the glow so anyone can step inside and take photos. There is no charge and no reservation needed. It is one of the most popular spots of the evening and a great photo opportunity for kids and adults alike.
The Balloon Glow is just one part of a full festival weekend.
Three days of morning balloon launches, the Saturday evening Balloon Glow, winter activities, and everything Winthrop has to offer.
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