Reno offers so many visually appealing attractions, but none are more well known and beloved than the Great Reno Balloon Races – the world’s largest free hot-air ballooning event.

The three-day event kicks off September 6th and goes through the weekend. Before the event is over, you’re sure to catch more than just a glimpse of dozens of hot air balloons taking flight and dotting the sky with a variety of colors.

When the Great Reno Balloon Races first started in 1982, there were close to 20 balloons that soared above the city, but today there up to 100 balloons flying high around town. This community tradition is truly a spectacle and residents and tourists bond over their lack of sleep and desire for some strong coffee as they sit and watch the balloons take flight during Dawn Patrol.

Friday – Sunday, gates to the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park will open at 3:30 AM for the Super Glow Show to start at 5:00 and the Dawn Patrol to begin at 5:30 AM. It’s recommended to get there early to get a good seat and be sure to bundle up! The mornings can be a little more than brisk, but it can warm up once the sun peaks out during Dawn Patrol.

If you and your family would like to see the sky covered in balloons, stick around until 7 AM, when the pilots will have a mass ascension and take off in swarms to color the sky.

Just North of Downtown Reno, more than 120,000 spectators will gather over the three-day period to watch a show that gets bigger and better year after year. The Great Reno Balloon Races have even been awarded the “Best Special Event in Reno” and “Best Special Event in Northern Nevada,” and the event continues to live up to the hype time and time again.

We hope to see you all out enjoying the hot air balloon show this year, and if you’re ever curious about any of the Reno neighborhoods, give us a call. With our help, you may be able to enjoy the show without leaving your backyard next year!