Here are some answers to the questions we are most frequently asked.
If you don't find the answer to your question here, send us an email at festival@montgolfieres.com
We'll soon be announcing the dates of the 2025 edition on our social networks and via our newsletter. Stay tuned!
The festival takes place on the airport site in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
The site is open rain or shine. Please note that some activities, such as the inflatable games, will be temporarily cancelled. However, we're offering a host of other activities that you're sure to enjoy just as much!
Since 2022, there have been no ticket discounts or refunds in the event of flight cancellations. Please wear appropriate clothing.
Ticketing for 2025 flights is not yet open. Be the first to know by subscribing to our newsletter!
We take the safety of our festival-goers and our team to heart. Therefore, if the weather conditions are unfavorable, the flights will be cancelled. However, the site will remain open and it will still be possible to immerse yourself and live the ballooning experience! When in doubt, consult our social networks.
Absolutely, we're always looking for dynamic people to join our team! However, registration for volunteers is currently closed. Stay tuned to our social networks to find out when registrations will open!
For a job: Click here to discover your future position!
Regular: 13 years and over.
Youth: ages 5 to 12.
Children: Children aged 4 and under. Access to the site is free, but proof of age is required.
From the announcement of a headliner to the unveiling of the full program.
On our website, in the ticketing section. Please note that tickets for the 2025 edition are not yet available. Subscribe to our newsletter to be informed in advance of the next presale period!
Please note that before the festival begins, there are no physical sales outlets. Also, our offices are not open to the public.
Yes, and more! They give access to the site, most activities and all festival shows.
Please note that daily tickets only give you access to the site for the date indicated on the ticket.
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No. All performances at the festival are subject to change or cancellation without notice.
Yes, our programming is for people of all ages. Shows, massive hot air balloon flights, rides, inflatable games, activities, a gourmet offer and many other things to see and do. There's something for everyone, whether they're enjoying the festivities with friends or family!
Yes, we offer a user-friendly event for everyone. There are parking spaces for people with reduced mobility, as well as a platform for the shows. To get there, simply follow the signs.
Each wheelchair user will be entitled to one (1) companion with free access to the site and the dedicated platform near the stage, by submitting their access card (e.g.: CAL Ou Access 2).
Each person requiring assistance will be entitled to one (1) attendant with free access to the site, by submitting their access card (e.g. CAL or Access 2).
To find out more, visit our Accessibility page!
No. Although we would love to pet your pitoos, no animals are allowed on site. Of course, guide dogs are an exception.
On the site, it is forbidden to have:
→ pets (except guide dogs);
→ glass bottles or containers;
→ alcoholic beverages;
→ cigarettes;
→ drugs;
→ a bike;
→ a skateboard;
→ bare feet.
Our site offers a variety of services on the entire site: fine dining stations, refreshment areas, relaxation areas and more! Facilities for maintaining the cleanliness of the site (garbage and recycling garbage cans) are also present on site.
To find out more, visit our Kiosks and services page!
Yes, folding chairs are allowed.
Yes, a landscaped area with tables and shade will allow you to make the most of your meal. In addition, a gourmet alley will be waiting for you on site!
No, we have everything you need! Personal alcoholic beverages are therefore prohibited.
In accordance with the law, it is strictly forbidden to consume any form of cannabis on the entire festival site.
For more details, you can consult this link.
Yes, click here to learn more about accommodation options in the area.
Yes, click here to learn more about accommodation options in the area.
The hot-air balloons that fly during the festival generally accommodate between 2 and 4 people.
For groups of more than 4 people, you will be divided into sub-groups.
Your flight ticket includes not only the balloon flight, but also a daily ticket for use on the day of your flight. If your flight takes place on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, you'll have an open ticket for use between August 15 and 18 inclusive.
No, you can take advantage of free parking on the festival site for your a.m. flight. However, if you're planning to stay for the day to enjoy the shows and activities, you'll need to purchase access to parking through our ticket office.
We'll be making the official announcement on our social networks and in our newsletter!
Subscribe now to be the first to know!
No. However, there are four criteria that must be met:
Yes. For safety reasons, please note that :
→ Persons suffering from back pain, heart ailments, less than 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall, pregnant women (or women who believe they are pregnant) and passengers under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be admitted to the flight.
→ A hot-air balloon flight can aggravate a previous injury.
→ If you've had joint replacement surgery, consult your doctor and mention it to the pilot.
→ If you suffer from allergies or a serious medical condition, tell the pilot. Make sure you're prepared for any eventuality (bring your medication: EpiPen, insulin, etc.);
→ If you need to take medication at a fixed time, it's advisable to have it with you as flight times can vary.
Note: If you suffer from a medical condition or have any questions about your abilities, please consult your doctor and inform the balloon pilot.
→ Young people aged 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
→ Passengers must be physically fit to:
→ Easily climb in and out of the basket on their own, hold onto something without assistance and remain upright throughout the flight;
→ Use the step on the side of the basket to step over its edge;
→ Take the shock of landing. This is the equivalent of a jump from a kitchen chair. Sometimes it can be a little more abrupt, so it's important to take this into consideration;
→ Be able to walk on uneven terrain.
At the Passenger Kiosk, located on the festival site.
As your flight approaches, an e-mail will be sent to you with all the information you need to know about your arrival at the festival.
Hot-air balloon gondolas are equipped with either a door or a step allowing passengers to climb inside. As it's impossible to choose your balloon, all passengers must be able to use the footboard to step over the edge of the basket (average basket height = 3.5 feet).
The important thing is to be comfortable. As it's often cooler at higher altitudes and you'll be landing on farmland, remember to bring long clothes that will keep you warm and protect you from mosquitoes. With a pair of comfortable shoes, you'll be ready for your adventure!
Of course! We strongly encourage you to bring a camera so you can capture this magical moment.
Please note that neither we nor the driver and his team can be held responsible for any lost or dropped items.
No, you need to make sure you only carry what you need for your flight.
Usually, the landing takes place in a field close to a road or path to facilitate recovery of the balloon. That said, since the strength and direction of the wind have a major influence on a hot-air balloon's route, each departure leads to a different destination.
Thanks to tracking teams. One team follows the balloon from the moment it leaves and stays in communication with the pilot throughout the flight. On landing, they help the pilot repack the envelope and return the equipment to the trailer. Everyone then returns to the starting point in the pursuit vehicle.
To make the most of your hot-air ballooning experience, you can help the pilot and his team repatriate all the equipment. However, please make sure you have the pilot's permission!
Before departure, you will be asked to sign a liability waiver form, which releases International Balloon Club and the pilot from all liability. Please bear in mind that flying is an activity with inherent risk.
Your balloon flight may be rescheduled during the festival or refunded. However, you must go to the ballooning box office to schedule a discount or receive a refund.
Yes, the price remains the same.
No or too strong winds (more than 12 km/h), rain and thunderstorm cells within a 50 km radius are unfavorable conditions for take-off.
Sometimes the conditions do not seem favorable during the hours preceding the flight and the flight still takes place. The opposite is also likely. Flight directors (balloonmeisters) analyze the weather conditions before each flight, in order to give their authorization.
Please note that a late take-off time may affect the duration of the flight. Depending on the decision of the balloonmeisters, each pilot is responsible for his flight and can decide to fly or not, depending on the conditions.
We cannot guarantee the exact duration of the flight, as it depends on the weather conditions at the time of take-off. However, a flight lasts approximately 1 hour. As a passenger, you should allow 3 to 4 hours for the total duration of the activity, which includes meeting the pilot, setting up the equipment and inflating, the flight, landing, packing up the equipment and returning to the departure point.
Hot air balloons can fly because warm air is lighter than cold air. On summer days, when the sun warms the earth, a phenomenon occurs that creates hotter or cooler zones and wind vortices that represent a risk for hot-air balloons. By flying very early in the morning and at the end of the day, the earth is sufficiently cold and thermal phenomena are practically absent, which allows us to fly safely.
A hot air balloon flies on average around 2 to 3000 feet of altitude, but may sometimes have to go to more than 6000 feet to find a wind with a more favorable direction and speed. It is also possible to fly at less than 1000 feet, or even at the top of the trees of a forest, to give a totally different view of the landscape.
The short version is that it is impossible to steer a hot air balloon.
The long version is that a pilot is able, in some way, to steer his balloon according to the altitude and the winds.
Approximately, we lose 2 degrees Celsius for every 1,000 feet of altitude. So if it is 20 degrees Celsius on the ground, it will be about 18 degrees Celsius at 1,000 feet, and so on. Also, since the balloon is moving at the same speed as the wind, you will hardly feel the wind factor during the flight.
No, however, we ask passengers to specify on the reservation form the languages that are understood and spoken, in order to facilitate the assignment to a pilot.
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