Thanks for an amazing 2024 event!
A World Class Balloon Festival
Presented By
Race Start
BFA U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship
JUNE 9 - 15, 2025
Longview will again welcome the U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship June 9-15, 2025, with the Great Texas Balloon Race competition run in conjunction with it June 13-15, 2025.
On the Clock
Featured Event
Drone Show
Don’t miss this year’s first spectacular annual drone show. This is sure to be a great addition to the Great Texas Balloon Race along with the annual balloon glow, curated concerts and more.
Presented By
Longview Arboretum and Nature Center
The Smoking Ace Mobile Cigar Lounge
Jaggers
Dolive Acres Dentistry, PLLC
Pilots
the GTBR proudly welcomes our pilots for the 2024 national hot air balloon championship. You can click below to view each pilots balloon and sponsors.
Eric Wiggins
Longview, TX
Sam Robey
Gladewater, TX
Bob Pulaski
Pineville, LA
Joe Paddie
Longview, TX
Jonathan Wright
Sun City, AZ
Cameron Wall
Albuquerque, NM
Special Shapes & Model Balloons
Our special shape balloons will inflate at various locations around Longview on Friday and Saturday morning. Inflations are set 7-7:45 a.m.
For the second time this year, the Great Texas Balloon Race will include the flight of “model” hot air balloons. The slightly smaller balloons are still powered by propane but are steered by a remote pilot on the ground and do not have a basket — kind of like a model airplane. These balloons won’t be competing in the Great Texas Balloon Race, but balloon fans can catch them June 14 and 15 during the event.
Evening inflations at the event grounds will be at 8:50 p.m. during the balloon glow.
