Festival Facts
What is the Chester County Balloon Festival?CCBFest is a hot air balloon festival designed for families and kids of all ages. This year, the 6th annual CCBF, will feature 20+balloons, including Special Shape Balloons. The Festival is located at the Embreeville State Complex just west of West Chester, Pennsylvania on Rt. 162. |
What does it cost to go to the Festival?Admission to the 2011 Festival is $5 per car. Some events require advanced tickets and/or additional fees. There will be an ATM onsite. Advance Online Ticket Sales will be available from Jan 1-Jun 13 for all special events requiring advanced tickets. |
Are pets allowed at the festival?NO pets are allowed at the Festival except Service Dogs (proper documentation required). This event attracts a large crowd which is not a good environment for pets. |
Is there seating available at the Festival?Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and be sure to wear comfortable shoes for walking. You can purchase VIP Glow Party tickets for tented seating area on Fri. |
What about parking?Parking at the festival is almost all on grass fields and there's lots of it. There is limited Handicapped parking on paved areas but be advised you will still need to walk down to the festival area which is all grass fields which may not be condusive to wheelschairs. Be sure to leave plenty of time and COME EARLY ! |
Where is the entertainment at the festival?There is a Main Stage with bands, speakers and of course the balloon launch field. |
What is the best time to arrive at the festival?The most crowds usually are there for the balloon mass ascensions and the glows so come when the gates open. The gates open at 6:00 p.m. on Friday,June 15th. On Saturday June 16th, the gates open at 3:00 p.m. Come early and stay for the fun, the launches, glows and fabulous entertainment and activities. That way you can make sure of getting a good parking place and avoid the crowds. You need to plan to have your blanket/chairs in place by 7:00 on Friday and 4:30 on Saturday to ensure you do not miss any ballooning events. |
Hints for Fun in the SunFolding chairs, blankets, Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and comfortable shoes are musts for a fun summer festival experience. NO COOLERS ALLOWED. NO OUTSIDE ALCHOHOL. There is an ATM onsite. |
Why do flights take place only in the morning and the late afternoon?Balloons need stable winds to operate effectively and the hours just following sunrise and approximately 2 hours before sunset are the best for finding these winds. Since balloons move with the air, the weather is very important in deciding to whether or not to fly. The pilot chooses a launch site to use the wind currents to fly towards a suitable landing site. The safety of our pilots, passengers and the crowd is always 1st priority. All balloon event times are approximate (including tethered rides) and are subject to delay and/or cancellation due to weather conditions. Note.... it may seem nice on the ground but the pilots also have to monitor upper wind flows and conditions. Be assured, if they are delayed or cancelled, there is a good reason. We will be just as disappointed as you if that happens. |
How high do balloons fly?Most balloonists enjoy low level flight. The typical balloon flight would be anywhere from tree level to about 3,000 feet above the ground. |
Where can tickets be purchased?No tickets are neccessary for General Admission. $5 Parking fee will be collected upon arrival. Tickets can be purchased in advance online for all Special Events and Balloon Rides during the Festival. All purchases are final except for festival cancellation. If your ride is cancelled it will be rescheduled at another time. |
What happens if it is rained out?Keep your fingers crossed for good weather that weekend! This is a not for profit event and the money from the ticket sales benefits our local youth and to cover the festival's expenses. We have scheduled many other activites and attractions in the event we have to cancel ballooning events. Therefore, all ticket sales are final, i.e. no refunds. The only exception would be total cancellation of the event. Please read cancellation policies before purchasing Special Event tickets or Rides. For updates in case of inclement weather check this website frequently. |
Festival Rules
Safety First The Chester County Balloon Festival pilots and their crews, want everyone at the festival to have a safe and enjoyable experience. Here is some important information and safety tips for spectators: Weather Dependent... Hot air ballooning is dependent upon a nice weather climate and calm winds of 10-mph or less. Wind dictates when and in what direction balloons may fly. Usually, these times are limited to just after sunrise and a few hours before sunset. Before launching, pilots will participate in a weather briefing. Cautious pilots only fly when the weather is close to ideal -- when skies are clear and wind conditions are normal. Storms are extremely hazardous for hot air balloons, because of the danger of a lightning strike. Even rain is a problem, because it decreases visibility and damages the balloon material (of course, it's not much fun to fly around in wet weather anyway). And while you need a nice wind current to have a good flight, very strong winds could easily wreck the balloon. Prevailing weather and winds may cancel or delay ballooning. Pilot's judgment is final.
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- Beware of vehicles moving around the field, especially emergency vehicles needing to get through the crowd.
- Do not bring your dogs or other pets.
- Do not leave your children unattended
- Do not smoke on the Launch Field – it is a safety issue due to the propane
- Do not step on or over any ropes attached to the balloons – again safety issue
- Locate the WBYA Tent – and let everyone know to meet there if you get separated. Make sure your children have some form of identification on them.
- Please do not touch any balloon equipment without asking the pilot or crew.
- Stay away from and clear of operating inflator fans near the balloons
- Take note of where you have parked your car. It's more difficult to find in the dark.
- Watch where you are walking for your safety and that of the balloons.
- Please pick up any debris, litter, etc. and dispose of in trash containers. No outside alcohol is allowed.
