At sunrise, watch as dozens of hot air balloons take to the sky, creating a stunning spectacle.

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Launches

The Great Prosser Balloon Rally takes place annually in late September in Prosser, Washington. Balloons, with pilots from multiple states, launch early in the morning from the Prosser Airport (weather permitting) and float over the lower Yakima Valley. 

Arrive early to mingle and watch the balloons inflate. Don’t be surprised if a pilot asks you to assist them as they prepare for take off. Then witness the hot air balloons lift into the sky. 

The morning flights are amazing to watch as the balloons on both sides of the bridge “splash and dash” onto the surface of the Yakima River then rise back up. No balloon rides are available for the general public, though a Sunday morning balloon ride goes to the winner of a raffle.

Night Glow Show at Art Fiker Stadium in Prosser Washington

The Great Prosser Balloon Rally Night Glow Show is held Saturday evening at the Art Fiker Stadium in Prosser. Admission to the stadium and the stands is free, however there is a charge for seating inside the playing field nearer the balloons. The show starts when all the stadium lights are turned off and the colorful hot air balloons are illuminated internally by their hot air burners against the dark night sky. 

Memorabilia is offered for sale by rally volunteers near the stadium’s front gate. Rally Caps, Rally T-shirts, Night Glow Sweatshirts, Rally pins, Night Glow pins, and more are available. Proceeds from the memorabilia help to defray the costs of the rally. 

Don’t forget your camera! 

Harvest Festival

In addition to ballooning, four blocks of downtown Prosser are blocked off to celebrate the fall season with a Harvest Festival. Visitors can browse a wide variety of handcrafted arts, crafts, photography, personal care products, live music, food vendors, and other goodies. At the same time, chalk artists from all over the Northwest display their talents with the annual Street Painting festival. It is a great weekend full of family activities. 

History

Over 30 years ago, Ted Wirch visited Prosser to give his in-laws a ride in his hot air balloon. This was the first time Ted has seen the beauty of Prosser from above. The Prosser skies were calling to him, and he began telling other balloonists about the great flying available over the Yakima River. The first official Great Prosser Balloon Rally was held in September of 1990 with eleven hot air balloons floating over the skies of Prosser and has been held each September since then.

Tickets

The Great Prosser Balloon Rally is free and is run by volunteers who work hard to provide a free experience. Day parking and admission is free to all, making it a perfect event to bring the whole family. 

Parking

Plenty of free parking is available for vehicles of all types, including RVs and pilot vehicles. Parking prices and availability can vary for other events and venues in Prosser. 

More Information

For schedules and details regarding the next event, look for details on the official Great Prosser Balloon Rally website and their Facebook page.

Other Prosser Attractions