FOLEY – As plans move forward for the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, Foley will again be supporting one of the Gulf Coast’s major spring events.

The Foley City Council approved plans to provide services for the annual event. The 2026 festival will take place April 30 to May 2, 2026 at OWA Parks and Resort. During the festival, about 55 hot air balloons usually fly over the city and take part in balloon glows at OWA.

While the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce puts on the event in conjunction with OWA Foley city services also support the festival, Mike Thompson, city administrator, said.

“We also provide in-kind service from various departments, such as police, fire, street  department, sanitation and parks,” Thompson said. “Those kinds of services that different departments provide to the chamber help make the event go smoothly. We've been doing this for a number of years now.”

Rachel Spear, chamber events and finance director, said the support of the city and public help make the festival a success each year.

“We're very appreciative of the city for all the support that you give us to make this signature event for Foley,” she told City Council members. “There are a lot of different parts, and a lot of people come together to pull it off and make it something that people can enjoy for our community.”

Earlier this year, the council also increased funding for the Festival. The money will be used to increase marketing reach and look at other ways to track the economic impact for the city.

In 2024, about 32,000 people attended the festival, up from 25,000 the year before. During the festival weekend, restaurant revenue increased by more than 30% and hotel occupancy reached 95%, according to chamber reports.

The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival was named the event of the year by the Alabama Tourism Department in 2021. The Southeast Tourism Society also named the Foley festival one of its signature events.