Medora Hot Air Balloon Rally

The skies above the North Dakota Badlands will fill with hot air balloons Sept. 12-13 as the Medora Hot Air Balloon Rally returns for its annual weekend of early-morning launches. Nine balloons are scheduled to take to the sky at 6:30 a.m. each morning, giving spectators the opportunity to watch the colorful display over the Badlands. A special preview flight will take place the morning of Friday, Sept. 11, ahead of the public rally.

Two lucky winners will have the opportunity to take flight in hot air balloons during Friday morning’s preview. Individuals can text “ENTER” to 701-495-6181 for a chance to win. Winners will be selected in advance and notified prior to the preview. The flights will offer a unique opportunity to experience the Badlands from above before the public rally begins.

The Friday preview will take place Friday, Sept. 11, beginning around 5 a.m. outside the Badlands Motel, where pilots will release small test balloons to assess wind speed and patterns and determine whether conditions are suitable for flight. Around 6 a.m., balloons will gather west of Hotel 1883 as crews prepare for launch.

Nine balloons are scheduled to launch Friday as part of the preview, offering an early opportunity to see the balloons take shape against the Badlands and capture the preparations leading into the weekend’s event. Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation (TRMF) employees and pilots will be available for interviews throughout the morning.

Because balloon flights are dependent on wind and weather conditions, launch times and flight plans are subject to change.

For more information about the Medora Hot Air Balloon Rally, visit Medora.com/hotairballoon.