Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival

Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival is an annual grand tasting festival held over 2 days each August in Elkhorn, Nebraska — combining hot air balloon launches and glow shows with a local wine showcase featuring over 60 wines. The 20th annual edition is scheduled for Friday, August 14th and Saturday, August 15th, 2026, at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park, north of 204th & Dodge. Advance tickets are $17 per person and include 5 wine tastes plus a souvenir wine glass; day-of tickets are $21 at the festival entrance. The event is produced by Mid-America Expositions, Inc., an Omaha-based event company with over 50 years of regional event experience.

The festival's centerpiece is its Local Wine Showcase, which draws from Nebraska's growing winery community — the state has expanded from 7 to nearly 25 wineries in recent years — and presents over 60 wines for tasting. Hot air balloon pilots from the Nebraska Balloon Club, joined by pilots from Iowa to Missouri, launch at 7 PM each evening, with an illuminated balloon glow at 9 PM (weather permitting). A separate Food & Wine Pairing Experience, priced at $64 per person, runs on both Friday and Saturday evenings at 6 PM and 8 PM. Each session includes 3 structured food and wine courses led by culinary chefs and wine experts in a classroom-style format. The 2025 edition featured Carrabba's Italian Grill on Friday and WineStyles with Chef Ata on Saturday, with pairings ranging from wood-grilled chicken with Pinot Grigio to slow-roasted prime rib with Cabernet. This add-on experience has sold out year after year.

Festival hours run 5 PM to 11 PM on Friday and 3 PM to 11 PM on Saturday. Free parking is available at Elkhorn High School with a shuttle to the festival entrance. Beyond wine, the event includes a Beer Garden with craft beers, a Marketplace Village with arts and crafts vendors, a Food Pavilion with options from Greek and Mexican dishes to barbecue ribs, live bands on the main stage, and a KidZone featuring face painting, bungee jumping, and inflatable obstacle courses.

Nebraska's wine industry has grown considerably over the past two decades, with producers earning regional recognition for varieties suited to the state's continental climate. The Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival serves as one of the state's most visible showcases for local wineries, giving attendees a structured opportunity to taste award-winning Nebraska wines alongside food pairings and regional craft beers — all within a family-accessible outdoor setting.