Hot Air Balloon Rides
at Lanterns 2026
Legend has it that the Wizard of Oz came to the Land of Oz -- and left Oz -- in a hot air balloon from a state fair carnival. Famously, the Wizard also said, "Everyone deserves a chance to fly."
Now here's YOUR chance to fly! Enjoy a view of Wildwood Park and all the Lanterns vistas from 50 feet in the air in the gondola of our hot air balloon!
​
As the Wizard himself would tell you, flying a balloon requires the right conditions, a lot of skill, and a little luck. Because our balloon can fly only under very specific circumstances, there are a LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS for this experience, and they may sell out quickly.
Do I need to reserve a balloon ride in advance?
Yes, you must purchase BOTH reserved balloon tickets AND admission tickets for the festival.
​
Balloon ride ticket price: $10
Approximate ride length: 5 minutes
​
See below for instructions about how to reserve a balloon ride time and purchase balloon ride tickets.
When are balloon rides available?
Balloon rides will be available during the following days and times, weather permitting:
​
Thursday and Friday, April 16 & 17 -- 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Saturday and Sunday, April 18 & 19 -- 4:00 - 7:30 pm
​
There is a cap on the number of tickets available for each day.
​
Thursday and Friday each have 40 total tickets available.
Saturday and Sunday each have 96 total tickets available.​
​
Who can ride in the balloon?
Both adults and children are welcome to ride. There are no age or size restrictions.
​
The balloon can take a maximum of 4 people per ride. You will sign up for a 45-60 minute time window when purchasing. We will then email you a specific appointment time for your ride. If your group is larger than 4 people, you will be split up into separate groups. If you have fewer than 4 riders, you will be combined with other ticket purchasers so that we can send up a full gondola on each flight.
Riders should be aware that there are no seats or restraints inside the gondola.
The balloon will be tethered to the ground -- so even though you will travel 50 feet in the air, there is no danger that you will accidentally float higher or float away from the launch area.
Please note: You must be able to climb into the gondola to ride the balloon. The ride is not accessible to people who are unable to climb over the basket's lip and stand for at least 5 minutes.
​
A seating area will be provided nearby where non-riders can watch the balloon flights and take photos and videos. We will also have turkey legs, funnel cakes, and freshly squeezed lemonade available for purchase with Wildbucks.
​
How do I get tickets and an appointment time?
​Step 1: Click the Buy Balloon Tickets link at the end of this section.
​
The link will take you to our ticketing website. Once there, you'll see a list of available dates with ticket time windows (see screenshot below, for example):
Please note: Clicking one of the time window buttons means you are requesting a ride during the 45-60 minutes immediately following that time. In the Saturday example above, if you click the 4:00 pm button, that means you may be assigned a ride time anytime between 4 and 5 pm.
​
Step 2: After clicking the time button, indicate how many total tickets you want to buy. Add them to your cart and check out.
​​
Step 3: When we receive your order, we will divide ticket holders into groups of four people and assign a ride time to each group.
-
If you and another person are ordering separately, but you want to ride together, email your request to heather@wildwoodpark.org.
​
-
If you want to request a specific time during the 45-60 minute window, email your request to heather@wildwoodpark.org.
​
We'll make every effort to honor your requests, but please understand it may not always be possible to do so.
​
Step 4: As the date of your festival tickets approaches, watch for an email from Heather Rookey containing your balloon ride time.
You must arrive at the balloon area 15 minutes before your assigned time to check in (see map). If you miss your scheduled flight time, your tickets will be forfeit, and no refund will be issued.
​
Cancellation policy
-
If windy or stormy conditions force us to cancel your ride once you are at the festival, we will refund your ticket price in Wildbucks that you can use for food or activities elsewhere in the park. Cancellations will be announced on signs at the front gate and on our social media.
​
-
If your flight ticket is for Sunday, and if the festival is closed that day due to rain, your ticket price will be refunded directly to your credit or debit card through our ticketing system.
​
-
If you purchase balloon ride tickets and you are then unable to attend the festival on the date of your reservation, please email heather@wildwoodpark.org ASAP to let her know so that we can offer your space to another festival guest.
About our balloon ride provider
David Hoover is a professional pilot for FedEx who has over 600 hours of hot air balloon flight experience. A native of Jackson, Tennessee, he has participated in a number of balloon events, including The Great Texas Balloon Race and the Natchez Balloon Festival, and he organized a hot air balloon race at Riverfest in Little Rock. His balloon is named The Sunrise Fellowship (see photos below).
