Hot air balloon festival returning to Selma for fifth year

Skylight Balloon Fest is scheduled for Oct. 21-23

SELMA – The RE/MAX Skylight Balloon Fest is returning to Selma this fall.

The festival will take place at the River City Community Church grounds from Friday, Oct. 21 through Sunday, Oct. 23, according to Maggie Titterington, the president and CEO of The Chamber (Schertz-Cibolo-Selma area).

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Titterington said since the festival started in 2017, the attendance ballooned from a few thousand people to more than 15,000 last year. She’s hoping the festival will attract 20,000 visitors this year, she said.

There will be 15 hot air balloons from all over Texas, including a tethered balloon and two larger character balloons. There will also be a market with 100 vendors, 21 food trucks, live music, acrobats, skydivers, a petting zoo and other attractions.

“It’s such an unusual and unique festival,” she said.

Images from the Skylight Balloon Fest. (Courtesy of R.Eads Photography and The Chamber)

Opening ceremonies kick off at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, followed by tethered balloon rides and a performance from the Spazmatics.

On Saturday, hot air balloons will launch at 8 a.m., if the weather permits. The event will close at 9 a.m. but reopen at 2 p.m. with the market, music and other attractions.

The last event, the balloon glow, is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.

On Sunday, balloons will launch at 8 a.m., if the weather allows. The event ends with two services at the River City Community Church, one at 9:30 a.m. and the other at 11:30 a.m.

The morning launches on Saturday and Sunday are free, but tickets are required for the afternoon and evening events on Friday and Saturday.

Admission is $10 for people 12 years and older, $5 for children 3-11 years old, and free for children 2 years and under. Parking is included in the ticket price.

Because the festival is dependent on the weather, tickets will only be sold at the gate on the day of the event.

Titterington said people can receive weather updates on the Skylight Balloon Fest Facebook page.

Images from the Skylight Balloon Fest. (Courtesy of R.Eads Photography and The Chamber)

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