The International Hot Air Balloon Festival (FIBAQ) returns to Alto Alentejo for its 27th consecutive year, bringing together participants from various European countries. The event will feature 30 teams and take place from November 7th to 13th.
The 27th International Hot Air Balloon Festival (FIBAQ) will take place across several locations in Alto Alentejo, including Alter do Chão, Fronteira, Monforte, Ponte de Sor, and the Abreu Callado Foundation in Benavila. The event will feature 30 teams from countries such as Portugal, Spain, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium, and will run from November 7th to 13th.
This year, the festival promises to light up the skies of Alentejo and offers the local population a unique opportunity to experience the thrill of flying in a hot air balloon. Through the purchase of solidarity bracelets, attendees can contribute to a good cause, with all proceeds going to the Volunteer Firefighters of the participating municipalities.
Maria Inês Soares, from the event’s organization, shared, “This is a festival that invites everyone who dares to dream and fly in a hot air balloon. Our social and environmental commitment is once again at the heart of FIBAQ, and we are proud to associate the flights with solidarity campaigns that directly benefit the Volunteer Firefighters in the local communities.”
This year’s edition of the festival will offer a range of activities, including a Night Glow event, which is often regarded as the highlight of a hot air balloon festival. During this nighttime spectacle, pilots prepare their balloons as though they are about to take off, but remain grounded just a few meters above the earth. The alternating flames from the burners create a stunning visual display, combining light, color, and music. The Night Glow will take place on November 9th at 7:45 pm in Ponte de Sor, with free entry for all.
As in previous years, the festival is organized by Publibalão and co-organized by Alentejo without Borders – Clube de Balonismo, founded in November 2012. This club is the first and only hot air balloon pilot school in Portugal, based in Fronteira, in Alto Alentejo.
