Hot Air Balloon Day (June 5)
Hot Air Balloon Day on June 5 honors one of the most peaceful and awe-inspiring ways to fly.
With roots in 18th-century France, this day celebrates the first manned flights that lifted human beings into the sky.
Whether you’ve flown in one or just admired them from the ground, the magic of a hot air balloon is hard to resist. It’s one of the most whimsical weird holidays in June.
When Is The Holiday?
Hot Air Balloon Day is celebrated annually on June 5.
Who Invented It?
While the exact founder of the holiday isn’t documented, it commemorates the first successful human flight in a hot air balloon, which took place in June 1783 in France.
The History of the Holiday
The idea of flying predates airplanes, and the Montgolfier brothers were the first to make it real.
In 1783, their balloon carried animals into the sky; later that year, Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent became the first human passengers.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, hot air balloons inspired scientific discovery, military innovation, and popular spectacle, shaping early aviation.
Top 5 Facts About the Holiday
- The first hot air balloon was made of paper and linen.
- Balloonists have crossed the English Channel and even reached the stratosphere.
- Thaddeus S.C. Lowe used balloons for military reconnaissance in the U.S. Civil War.
- Propane burners made modern ballooning safer and more accessible.
- Hot air balloon festivals attract thousands with their vibrant, synchronized ascents.
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Activities to Celebrate
- Visit a local balloon festival or schedule a tethered balloon ride.
- Read books or watch documentaries about the Montgolfier brothers or early aviation.
- Create a balloon-themed craft or coloring page with your kids.
- Watch footage of famous balloon flights, like Felix Baumgartner’s stratosphere jump.
- Host a backyard picnic and look up, just in case!
Links to Resources
Explore these creative and fun ways to celebrate the holiday:
- If you’re planning a ride, check out this practical guide on What to Wear on a Hot Air Balloon Ride for real tips and outfit ideas.
- For DIY lovers, this DIY Hot Air Balloon Décor guide offers a beautiful way to bring ballooning indoors.
- Add a crafty twist with this Crochet Heart Balloon Appliqué—a sweet handmade project that works as a gift or decoration.
- Try this fun 3D Hot Air Balloon Craft for Kids—great for classrooms, playgroups, or quiet afternoons at home.
- Younger children will love this Heart Hot Air Balloon Craft made from simple supplies with a big visual payoff.
- For a holiday twist, use this clever Elf on the Shelf Hot Air Balloon idea as a year-round craft or photo op.
- For a beautifully illustrated nonfiction option, Up and Away!: How Two Brothers Invented the Hot-Air Balloon is a great read-aloud that brings the Montgolfier brothers’ story to life.
- And if you’re looking for a more whimsical, inspiring read, The World Needs Who We Were Made To Be uses hot air balloons as a metaphor for creativity, diversity, and kindness—great for kids and adults alike.
Related Holidays
National Weatherpersons Day (February 5) celebrates those who study and forecast the weather—knowledge that’s essential for every safe balloon flight.
Go Fly a Kite Day (3rd Sunday in April) is another skyward celebration, perfect for enjoying the wind and imagining what it’s like to float even higher.
National Amelia Earhart Day (July 24) honors one of aviation’s boldest pioneers, making it a fitting tribute for anyone inspired by human flight.
Look Up at the Sky Day (April 14) encourages everyone to pause and enjoy the view above, whether it’s a passing cloud or a drifting hot air balloon.
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