I have visited this event couple of times. This is definitely worth visiting event. This event is held in early September, in fact a 3 day event. It is held couple of miles north of Reno. Event starts early in the morning. Over 120000 people attend this event every year. Around 100 hot air balloon participate in this event. Morning glow event is awesome. If you are into photography, this is a must visit event, in fact the location has a small pond where you can capture nice reflection of the balloons. Highly recommend this event.

This is an excellent event for the entire family. I have been to a few of the hot air balloon events. By far, this is the well organized event with more than 70 balloons up in the sky. The event started at 5:00pm. The official event is in the Rancho RAFAEL park on 1595 N. Sierra Street, Reno. To get a parking spot and enjoy the festivity, it best to get there no later than 4:30am. The best area to park is on 1400 block Washington street as the park has limited parking space. This event is held the weekend after Labor Day. There are also so many vendors, so you can get some breakfast or souvenir. To enjoy this event, be sure to bring beach chair or blanket so you can sit on the lawn area.

It was beautiful! Ive never seen balloons like these before and it was just gorgeous!I will definitely be coming back next time!

Entertaining...The Dawn Patrol was worth getting up early for. Good food, many vendors, parking wasnt bad. We paid $10 to park, although one can park nearby and walk a little furtherEvent is free to enter. Great for the kids, as well as adults.

This was our first time attending and we got there at 5:30 am. We waited until the wind finally died down enough for them to start filling the balloons. This was a little after 8 am. By the time the 15 balloons finally were able to launch, the wind started again and they had to abort the launch.

Beautiful. Fantastic. Amazing. Majestic. Thank you GRBR for coming to Reno and giving us an incredible free show every year!

One of the best free events in Reno! Catch the Glow Show and Dawn Patrol before sunrise and then watch the balloons soar when the sun comes up. They have special shaped balloons every year and you can collect a card from each of them. Super fun for kids.

What a wonderful experience! From the Dawn Patrol to the ascent...I look forward to going again! Its a beautiful relaxing morning!There are great options in the area to get an excellent view...be sure to go early and bring a blanket. Thus is a must do!

The Balloon Races Are Worth Seeing, Especially the Dawn Patrol and Glow Show. Only Bad side is all the Rude People Who Stand up. Cause you cant possibly see the balloons When theyre in the Sky Right! Got to Go at least once. Get here super early thou. It starts at 5am. F-Sun. Parking is $10 if you dont want to hike. Totally worth it, Since its a Free Event. No Smoking, No Pets, No Drones. Bring a blanket to sit on or collapsible chairs. Plus A Flashlight.

Amazing morning watching the sunrise we really enjoyed ourselves

Coming to the Balloon race has become a tradition for my boyfriend and I. While were not morning people, this is the exception! Its an absolutely magical feeling to watch all the ballons take of and its almost impossible to look up and not see one. They have commemorative pins for sale and we are going to start collecting those too! We brought food but they also had a large amount of food vendors with everything from donuts to breakfast burritos and such. This is truly an experience you wont want to miss.

Was another amazing year. Lots of vendors. Lots of smiling faces. Lots of balloons.The Super Glow Show was fun! ie: dueling banjos. I unexpectedly went on a balloon ride! Awesome experience!

Very amazing. It is hard to find a spot and it is bad for socially anxious/ socially disabled people. But it is so pretty. It’s worth getting up for.

This doesnt happen til September ish but its really fun.

Wonderful free event. Unfortunately the winds conspired against us and so the glow show was burners only and the dawn patrol didnt happen. Despite the disappointment the announcers did a great job making the best of a less than ideal situation cracking jokes and describing the glow show of our imagination etc. The balloonists did a wonderful job making it fun for spectators and kids during their static inflating of the balloons. Love that you can get up close to the balloons and balloonists.

Wow what a show, definitely worth the 4-5am wake-up to get here for the glow show and dawn patrol

This had always be a favorite event of mine its very beautiful.

I loved it was my first time there and i will come back next year!

This was the best baloon racing event I have ever attended. We reached to the venue very early in the morning by 4PM. The glow show was amazing especially the balloons were on/off in-sync with music. The real balloon race after the sunrise was so much colorfull and magical. The balloons were so magificiant to watch so closely.

Awesome experience, drove from Portland just to see this event and I was not disappointed.

What a great experience. The kiddos love it!

It was our first time, and not our last! Beautiful sunrise, if you make the maje the dawn patrol, and amazing baloons!

My favorite Reno event! Definitely worth getting up early for Dawn Patrol.

Fun event, its always great getting there early and walking around while the balloons are getting ready, and being super close to everything. Great views.

Very cool event. Get there early and beat the crowds.

Always so much fun. A new experience for the family all together. Volunteering also allows for fun even if it involves a little bit of work.

Always a great time! So awesome to have Pedicabs there this year!!!

Awesome balloon show great weather all except last day.

Excellent collection of beautiful balloons. One of the must attend events in Reno

Not the AIBF but worth going. No parking problems, no crowds. Perfect launch.

This should be something on your bucket list to consider. Its awesome to see so many hot air balloon at just about arms length.

Just incredible fun for the whole family kid friendly

Beautiful event that is worth going to every year it has something new but also a feeling of nostalgia

So beautiful! What a perfect day!

The best experience.

We were a little disappointed because the wind hindered the hot air balloons from being able to do morning glow as well as the dawn patrol but we still had a good time, the kids had a blast playing in the ball pit as well as walking around.

Beautiful, my almost 4 yr old loved it

Amazing event! Always worth attending. Liked the new glow show and dawn patrol.

This event is so fun - family friendly! We have gone for years now. Downside is waking up super early (4 am - light show starts at 5 am) but it is a sight to see if you can manage! Foodstands tend to have long lines but food is always great.

As my first ever ballon festival it was really awesome

I go every year!! Its the best free event EVER!!! We make sure to bring hot chocolate and lots and lots of blankets. It gets very cold.

Nice park balloons were awesome

This was my first time and was quite spectacular! The whole city turns up so you need to be really really early to get any kind of parking spot!

My family and I LOVE going to the Balloon Races and have gone every year!

As every year, a wonderful event.

Amazing to take the kids and watch the balloons, do go when its still dark out though, at around 4am... you get a really cool light show

This event is free for spectators thanks to the support of sponsors and from donations. If theres one thing you should be wary of, it would be about the parking situation. As youve probably heard before, The early bird gets the worm. Parking is limited and with a portion of North Sierra Street being closed off, there wont be much street parking either. We were fortunate enough to have been able to park in one of the parking garages on UNRs campus

What an amazing event for families to attend. One of the coolest free events in Reno. The trade off is you have to be willing to get up at the buttcrack of dawn, park a ways away and walk and sit and freeze (usually) while you wait for the balloons to ascend. Dawn patrol is worth seeing, but man 4am comes pretty early when you have 4 kids to get up and get ready!

This was phenomenal . Glad it happens annually will be happy to go again next year .

First time coming to the grounds. It was something I will never forget. Amazing

Great free event for the family if you dont mind waking up early

I love this park and take my greatgrandkids their frequently throughout the entire year.

Super fun plus amazing pictures

One of the single greatest events that Ive been to in the Reno Nevada area very happy with how things were very pleased with the crowd with the show every bit of it five star all the way

I always love the balloon races!! Make sure you make it early for Dawn patrol and the glow show!!

This is such a fun event....we go every year...and its still fun for my boys..

This is an amazing experience, the dawn patrol and light show is a MUST see.

Great tonbring the kids! Totally worth getting up early and seeing dawn patrol and the glow show

Its worth the drive from Modesto CA, we will be back next year with more friends and families.

Lots of booths to visit and food. Love this festival!

A magical experience

Hot air balloons are such a fun and unique niche, so its really wonderful to be able to witness them!

Get there early for the glow show is the best part, especially if you have young children!

Best free family event! Been going for 5 years!

Always love the balloon races. Dawn patrol is definitely worth the early rise. Taking the bus from the convention center was a bit unorganized and long waits.

Lots of space to walk around and you can see the ballons inflating. Crowds near food stands though.

Its such a great experience. There are so many spectacular balloons and its worth waking up at 4am to watch.

Great free event for whole family.

What an amazing experience!!! A must do for everyone if you get the chance

Great experience if youve never been before. This was the 38th year of the ballon races in Reno. Always the first weekend after Labor Day.

2nd year cant wait till next year

Always a great show, just make sure you there early for a great spot

Such a cool experience. The glow show was gorgeous and the actual launch was really cool to be able to walk through.Nake sure you bring extra jackets and blankets! Its chilly.

Lots of fun and I loved the glow show.

Awesome experience!

Never fails to be enjoying for family and friends. One of the best events awaited for every year. People come from around the country to attend. It is a blessing and beautiful to see all the colorful balloons, and the staff definitely make it worth while. They are friendly and kind.

Dawn patrol show is great for the whole fam. Starts very early (4-5a.m.). But the balloon races arent until Sept.

Was cool to see all the hot air balloons.

Need better signs and written directions to parking. Very crowded. The balloons were amazing. Sadly humanity not so amazing. Should goto the event at least once in a lifetime. Brilliant beautiful high flying balloons all around. Great little vendors and merchandise. Get the VIP package before it sells out!

Such an amazing experience! Up close and personal!

Good kids play ground at this site.

Excellent show! My son is very happy!

The balloon races are a great family and kid friendly experience. The only thing I would change would be to get rid of the high notes choir. They are brutal... hard to listen to, everyone around was cringing. Local radio would be much more pleasant.

We always have a great time at the Great Reno Balloon Race. This year seemed highly unorganized as far as security went. I know the people helping are volunteers but people were everywhere and when they were told not to go in certain areas they did anyways. They were standing in the main walkways even though they were told to keep moving so it was almost impossible to see from where we were sitting. We had to stand up which made the people behind us upset. Hopefully next year is better.

Amazing. Light show is a must. You can walk up to balloons as theyre inflating. Quite the experience.

Go every year. Its awesome!

Its a very good event

Amazing, free, local event. Go early to see the Dawn Patrol!

Cant miss this. Each year it gets bigger and bigger. Dawn patrol starts before the sun rises and is a must see!

GREAT time, the light show was spectacular. All kinds of balloons filled the air as they took off. I would definitely recommend this to come see.

Very Awesome and Very Cool!!! Very beautiful sunrises.

We luv joinin in tha festivityz evry yr. Tha balloon races hav been a stapl of reno 4 almst 40 yrz. We usuly go ona sat or sun 2 watch dawn patrol. Its 1 of tha best celebrations of tha yr. U gota go erly tho. Like 4a. & pack warm cloz jic. Xpect 2 wlk a bit cuz prkn iz ata premium. U cnt prk insd rancho san rafael unless u hava vip prkn pass, so if u hav an oprtunity 2 get 1, take advntg of it. If not, jus prk in 1 of tha nayborhoodz by tha prk. They also hav lotsa diff food & drnk optionz, az well az crafts & fun 4 tha hole fam. All in all an amazn evnt

Beautiful, beautiful colors drifting around the sky. Dont forget to watch the actual game of hitting the mark in the dead center!

Nothing like the glow show and dawn patrol

We anxiously wait for September, to watch this Beauty

Amazing! The best event in RenoTahoe

A very special interesting visual spectacle highly recommended come early to get a place to park.

Great Reno Balloon Races are truly amazing!! Its our first time here but we plan on making it a yearly event. Everyone should be here

Most beautiful experience .

Definitely fun. Basically a mini version of the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque.