$300 Rides at Billings’ Big Sky Balloon Rally Sold Out in Days

The annual Big Sky Balloon Rally is coming up this weekend at Amend Park (7/20 - 7/23) and this year's event offered something special. An opportunity to purchase tickets for a ride in a hot air balloon. Limited tickets were available on 7/16, according to a post I saw on social media. They were $300 for a solo ticket or $600 for a couple. Spendy, sure, but how often do you get a chance to ride in a balloon?

I knew they would sell out quickly.

Two days later, they are sold out. Not surprising. If I had the extra cash I would've bought a pair of tickets in a heartbeat. Purchasers were warned that flights may get canceled due to weather. If it's too windy, they won't fly. Refunds will be given; rebooking is not an option.

Look for balloons in the sky beginning Thursday morning.

If you weren't lucky enough to get tickets, it's still pretty fun. The Big Sky Balloon Rally (the largest balloon event in Montana) kicks off Thursday morning at 6 am with media and sponsor flights. There are additional balloon launches scheduled on Friday and Saturday morning at 6 am.

Catch the balloon glow party Saturday night.

Even if you can't score a ride in a hot air balloon, you can get up close and personal to the stunning balloons during the party at Amend Park on Saturday evening. Gates open at 6 pm with live music from 6:15 to 8:30 by the Fake News Band. Food trucks and kids activities are part of the evening, and at dusk, the towering hot air balloons will be lit up by their roaring burners for the 100% Insta-worthy balloon glow. The event is free. Find out more HERE.

Sidenote: If you weren't able to get tickets for a balloon ride this time, we've heard there will be opportunities to take rides during the Blue Angels Airshow, thanks to Pepsi Cola of Billings. We'll have more details soon.