This year, the festival (which is also a music festival as well as a hot-air balloon festival) will be held on the weekends of August 8 to 10 and August 14 to 17.
In addition to hundreds of hot-air balloons soaring over Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, there will be performances by Star Académie, Marie-Mai, T-Pain and Diplo (among others)…
We love the fact that the festival announces its lineup in two posts; one with the musical artists, and one with the hot-air balloon pilots who will be taking part…
International Balloon Festival
This beloved Quebec event made its debut in 1984. Since its inauguration, it has attracted crowds of 60,000, including balloonists from Quebec, Ontario, the U.S. and Europe.
Three years later, in 1987, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu was named the hot-air balloon capital of France, welcoming the largest number of balloons in the country every year. In 1992, the event was renamed the “Festival des montgolfières”, and in 2001 it was finally renamed the International Balloon Festival.
It’s a unique sight to see, at sunset, in the blue summer sky…
In addition to twice-daily flights, the hot-air balloons are lit up and lashed to the ground for an evening light show.
A historic scene
It was in 1996 that a show at the International Balloon Festival launched a group that was little-known in North America until then: the Backstreet Boys. Some 62,000 people turned out that year, a record crowd that had a surprising impact on pop music. Since then, the festival has welcomed Rihanna in 2006, Pitbull, Kesha and LMFAO in 2011, and Charles Aznavour in 2014, among others.
This year’s line-up includes shows by Fouki, Diplo, T-Pain and Marie-Mai, as well as Star Académie.
Where? in the village of Saint-Jean sur Richelieu (45-minute drive from Montreal)
When? August 8-10 and 14-17
How? Prices for general admission vary from day to day, ranging from $45 to $70. You can also rent a place in the camping area for $30.44 a night ($91.31 on weekends).
Enjoy the festival!