The skies of Portugal’s Alentejo region will come alive again soon as the International Hot Air Balloon Festival (FIBAQ) returns from November 8 to 13, bringing together more than 30 teams from five European countries.
Now in its 28th edition, the annual event is organised by Publibalão, in partnership with the Alentejo sem Fronteiras ballooning club, and will see flights taking place across several towns in the Portalegre district, including Ponte de Sor, Avis, Alter do Chão, Monforte and Fronteira.
“We hold this festival in the region (Portalegre) also because of the São Martinho summer, the fields themselves and the location where we are based,” said organiser Aníbal Soares, speaking to Lusa. “When we started ballooning, we also had the support of the local authorities, who are still with us, and I think we have to promote this area, which also has very good technical characteristics”.
This year’s edition is expected to feature between 31 and 35 ballooning teams from Portugal, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Belgium.
The colourful procession of balloons will begin in Ponte de Sor on November 8, followed by flights in Montargil (November 9), Benavila in Avis (morning of November 10) and Fronteira that same afternoon. The festival will then move to Alter do Chão (November 11) and Monforte (November 12), wrapping up on November 13 back in Fronteira.
One of the highlights will again be the “Night Glow”, an annual nighttime show in Ponte de Sor, where hot air balloon burners are synchronised to music, creating a spectacle of light, colour and sound.
Hot air balloon flights are scheduled to take place twice daily, at 7am and 7.3am, and again at 2pm and 2.30pm, weather permitting.
Those wishing to experience a flight can purchase charity wristbands for €99 on weekends or €75 during the week, with proceeds supporting local associations and volunteer fire brigades. Tethered “baptism” flights will also be available for €7 per person.
First held in 1997, the festival has become one of southern Portugal’s most distinctive autumn events and helped pave the way for the creation of the country’s first hot air balloon pilot school, which opened in Fronteira in 2012.
