Welcome to The Hillsborough New Hampshire Balloon Festival

July 7 - 10, 2011

Come for the weekend and explore Hillsborough's many small town attractions

The Hillsborough Balloon Festival and Fair has become a major four day event since it was created by merging the former Hillsborough Firemen's Weekend and Hillsborough Balloon Festival.

In addition to the original events and entertainment, each year new attractions are added. Revived in 2008, the old fashioned Fireman's Muster on Sunday afternoon features competitions among the area fire departments. Along with the typical thrill rides and games of the Carnival Midway, the Festival also features some of the best regional performing artists, including Hillsborough's own Country and Western vocalist, Angela West, with her group "Showdown". Other popular events include 4x4 truck and tractor pulls, and a Mud Bog pull and returning is the Classic Car Show and 5k Road Race. New this year for your entertainment on Saturday is a team of Sky Divers.

Recently, an Artist's Fair has been established during Balloon Festival weekend, sponsored by the Hillsborough Area Artisans. The Hometown Parade on Sunday has grown to include many civic groups with marching bands, floats, military personnel and a wide assortment of fire apparatus from all over New Hampshire.

But the thrill of the weekend are the Hot Air Balloons piloted and crewed by regional balloon enthusiasts. Balloon flights over New Hampshire's beautiful Monadnock Region are available to the general public along with tethered flights for the more cautious.

The Saturday night fireworks extravaganza is one of the premier fireworks displays in all of New Hampshire.

The Hillsborough Balloon Festival and Fair is now sponsored by the Hillsborough Civic Organization, comprised of the three original local groups, the Hillsborough Fire Department, Hillsborough Lions Club, and the Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce.

Proceeds generated from the Balloon Festival provide major financial support for these organizations. In addition, most local businesses, churches and civic groups prosper during the week leading up to the event as well as during the weekend. When more than 30,000 people come to a town the size of Hillsborough, their presence is a major economic impact and residents of Hillsborough, the surrounding communities, and across New England have a weekend full of fun for the whole family.

So, bring the family, stay the weekend in one of our local charming Bed and Breakfast Inns, enjoy Hillsborough's small town atmosphere, explore our antique shops and ancient stone bridges, stop in at the Artist's Fair and perhaps even attend a country auction in a 17th century barn. Sample home made breads, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor and a variety of local dining establishments.

The Hillsboro Balloon Festival is happy to announce that we have gone "GREEN". Recycling containers will be around the fairgrounds to recycle your trash, bottles and cans. Please dispose of your trash in the proper container.