Medicine Hat’s Rise Up Hot Air Balloon Festival generates lots of interest, organizers happy with event

The fifth annual festival featured 34 balloons, continuing the steady growth of the event that began during the COVID-19 pandemic and has quickly become one of the region’s most popular summer attractions.

“The two morning flights were absolutely gorgeous,” Taillon said.

“Having multiple launch locations to allow us to travel and fly over our city is perfect.”

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Video of the Saturday morning flight. Jesse Gill/CHAT News

He said some of the most memorable moments came from watching residents interact with pilots and crews from across North America.

“When the balloons land on the edge of the city, people are out helping,” Taillon said.

“I’ve seen videos where five or six kids are helping with the balloon and packing it up, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Taillon said he was pleased with how this year’s Community Day unfolded after being moved to Medicine Hat College.

“We liked the location,” Taillon said.

“First impressions were that it was really well received,” he added.

“That free pancake breakfast got everyone out, and the overall weekend we achieved our values of community connection and hope.”

Taillon says sponsorship of the event makes it possible and is what has allowed it to continue to grow.

Taillon said local corporate sponsorship remains critical to the festival’s continued growth.

“The two big components to a hot air balloon festival are having the volunteers to help and then the second component is our corporate sponsorship,” Taillon said.

“Every dollar helps us put this festival on and put a premier event on.”

He adds that the goal of Our Collective Journey, being part of the event, is to raise awareness and showcase the wonderful work they’re doing in the community.

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READ: ‘Watching hope come back to someone’s eyes’: OCJ continues support for addiction and mental health (May 7, 2026)

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Taillon said social media engagement around the festival exploded this year, with festival accounts recording approximately 2.7 million views over seven days across Facebook and Instagram.

“That’s huge for our city,” Taillon said.

He credited the festival’s social media team for helping educate the public about ballooning and keeping residents informed about launch decisions and weather-related changes.

“There’s so much safety that’s involved in ballooning,” Taillon said.

“Capturing that and educating and explaining why we’re not flying or why we’re flying, and then the locations,” he added.

“The livestream for people who may have mobility issues and can’t get out, just keeping everyone informed as best as we can.”

The event continues to draw visitors from outside southeastern Alberta.

Organizers invited attendees to sign guest boards at festival sites, and Taillon said names and hometowns came from across Canada, the United States and beyond.

“There were locations all the way from the Philippines, from Mexico, Edmonton, Lethbridge, and Saskatoon,” Taillon said.

“It started as a community event, and now it’s become a tourist event as well.”

During the festival, Taillon and his wife, Cindy, were also recognized with an Emerging Leader award from the Aero Club of Canada for their work promoting aviation and ballooning.

“We were kind of shocked,” Taillon said.

“This started as a pandemic hobby, and once I went to my first event with 16 other balloons, I knew we had to do something for our community,” he added.

“It’s so uplifting and just to see the smiles and all the comments that this made their day.”

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During the opening night of the Rise Up Hot Air Balloon Festival 2026 on Thursday. Rise Up organizers Willy and Cindy Taillon were awarded the Emerging Leader award from the Aero Club of Canada. Rise Up Balloon Meister Dale Ritchie was awarded the Joan Martin award by the Canadian Balloon Association. (Image Credit: Calgary Balloon Club)

Rise Up Balloon Meister Dale Ritchie was awarded the Joan Martin award by the Canadian Balloon Association.

Taillon said the about 75-minute Rise Up documentary, filmed last year, is now on YouTube for the public to view.

It gives a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into staging the festival and went live on YouTube on Saturday night.

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Rise Up Documentary YouTube Video

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The film was previously showcased at the Monarch Theatre in April and the College Theatre during Community Day.

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READ: Rise Up Documentary showing at Medicine Hat’s Monarch Theatre (April 16, 2026)

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“It really showcases our community and the volunteerism and the workings behind the balloon festival,” Taillon said.

Taillon said the event’s success continues to be driven by volunteers, pilots, and residents’ enthusiasm.

“The people that were out, the people chasing the balloons, the people there when we were landing, the pictures and the videos are just thumbs up,” Taillon said.

“We’re super proud.”

by Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat’s Rise Up Hot Air Balloon Festival generates lots of interest, organizers happy with event

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