Eyes to the Skies/ Hot Air Balloon Festival

Written by Maya Shetty in EVENTS, TRAVEL

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The Eyes to the Skies is an annual Hot Air Balloon Festival held in the western suburbs of Chicago,Illinois. Hot air Balloons are among the most popular summer bucket list items to check out.

Up, up and away !

Table of Contents

Where is there a hot air balloon festival?

The wildly popular, visually stunning “Eyes to the Skies Festival“ returns to the western suburbs of Chicago next summer.

West suburban, Lisle is hosting the Hot Air balloon festival for the 37th year, early in July,2021 featuring hot-air balloons, music, food, arts & crafts and kid’s activities.

If you are planning on summer events to attend, as the weather gets warmer, this Hot Air Balloon Festival would definitely be on my summer bucket list.Let me assure you , it will be a ride you remember for a lifetime!

If you are in or around the Chicago area, don’t miss it in summer, it is a fun event for the family, the kids and adults alike love the excitement.

What can we expect at a hot air ballon festival?

The Eyes to the Skies Balloon Festival displays a wide variety of balloons including sport balloons, specialty shape balloons, and sponsored balloons.There are about 20- 30 balloons and balloonists who visit regularly each year to fly their balloons.

Where and when is the’Eyes to The Skies’ festival held?

Balloon rides are offered to the public early in the morning (6.00AM onwards ) and in the evening ( 6PM) and is completely weather dependent!

When : July 2,3rd – July 4th, 2021
Where : Lisle Community Park located at 1825 Short Street in Lisle, IL 60532.
Hours : Morning Balloon Launch and Tethered Rides (5:30 AM to 8:30 AM) FREE ADMISSION
Festival (12:00 PM to 11:00 PM)
Kids Area (12:00 PM to 7:00 PM)
Evening Balloon Launch and Glow (5:30 PM to 9:00 PM)
Evening Balloon Tethered Rides (5:30 PM to 11:00 PM)
Fireworks (9:45 PM)

The Balloon Field Layout

For the first timers who are visiting the Eyes to the Skies Festival, it is important to know the Balloon Field layout.

When one enters the field, the display balloons will be on the right and the tethered balloons on the left of you.

Balloon inflations will happen on both sides of the field, the glow and some launches will take place from the display side of the field.The tethered balloons will always be secured to the ground.

The launches that take place from the display side are NOT open to the public for rides, while the tethered balloon always are !

Tethered Balloon Rides

Just as the name suggests the tethered balloons are always secured to the ground at multiple points and will not fly off the ground. During tethered rides, they do rise off the ground 50 feet or so, remaining up in the air for a short period of time allowing one to have a panoramic view of the festival.

The Balloon Pilot determines if the weather conditions are favorable to fly the tethered balloons, so if there is rain or heavy winds predicted be prepared for delay or cancellation of your tickets for the ride with full reimbursement.

Tickets: Tethered Rides ($20.00 per adult/child – Cash Only)

The morning rides for the Eyes to the Skies Festival, are less crowded and one could just walk in and purchase the ticket and they do not require the $10 festival admission, however the evening scene is a little different.

The evening flights and glows will require a paid admission. Being summer time, you can expect larger crowds and families with children.

To avoid waiting in line for an opportunity to fly, and to enjoy the festival to its fullest, the organizing committee does offer a numbered voucher/reservation system for the tethered rides.

There is a waiver that must be signed by all riders in the presence of festival staff. If a rider is less than 18 years of age, the parent or guardian must sign the waiver for the minor. Any child under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a paid adult on the tethered ride.

Venue : All flights of The Eyes to The Skies Festival, will originate at the Lisle Park District Community Park or attempt to fly towards the park

Tethered Hot-Air Balloon Rides for people with disabilities

The wheelchair accessible hot-air balloon, Serena’s Song, will inflate on the field outside of the festival grounds on Short street, near the east entrance off of Rt. 53. One need not enter the festival for access to the balloon.

Free tethered rides are available to people with physical and developmental disabilities. A family member or attendant may share in this exciting experience. Each ride takes approximately 15 minutes.

For details on scheduling and registering earlier for this ride, please call SEASPAR at 630-960-7600 for additional information or go to seaspar.org

Carnival

Every year the Festival has a large carnival providing a wide variety of rides, games and attractions for children and adults of just about all ages.

To enter the carnival for free, you must go through the West Gate entrance (off the Yackley Ave. side). Carnival entry is not permitted through the East gate and North Gates !

How much does it cost for the hot air balloon rides?

Tickets :

Individual Ride Tickets: $1.00 per ticket
$20.00 per 21 tickets
$40.00 per 44 tickets

Wristband Days : Wednesday June 27 and Thursday June 28 are wristband days. $25.00 each day and are good for all rides open to close, 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm. (days subject to change. Check site info)

Megapass is good for rides all 5 days of the carnival

What do you do at the Hot air balloon festival?

Apart from the exciting balloon rides, there are lot of things to do for both kids and adults alike. Music, food, craft shows and fireworks are all part of the merriment of a summer festival, celebrating the 4th of July

Fireworks

Firework show celebrating the Nation’s birthday is on every night from July 4th- July 6th.Fireworks are launched south of the hot air balloon field and are viewable from anywhere in the Festival grounds.

The Craft Fair

The Craft Fair will be located on Short St. west of the bridge and east of the carnival/main Festival entrance, bringing together local and national crafters to sell artwork, jewelry and clothing .

Food

With over 50 food vendors that specialize in a wide variety of tantalizing flavors, from typical ribs and pulled pork sandwiches, to the more exotic fried Oreos and a Pork-Chop on a Stick, there are so many mouth watering choices for festival goers to choose from. Though outside food is not permitted within festival grounds , special consideration is given to those with severe food allergies and Celiac disease who provide a doctor’s note.

Location and Parking

( information obtained from official site)

The Festival is located in Lisle Community Park located at 1825 Short Street in Lisle, IL 60532.
Since there is no parking on the grounds ,one must use the remote lot for access to the Festival.

Metra Train Access :
You can also take the Burlington Northern Metra Train to downtown Lisle and walk roughly a half mile to the Festival (10 to 15 minute walk).

If you arrive via train, you will want to walk West of the train station to Main Street, and turn left / walk South down Main Street until you hit Short Street, and then turn right / head West on Short Street. Short Street dead-ends into Main Street, so you can only go West on Short Street. Once you cross Route 53 you will enter the park and shortly thereafter the Festival grounds.

Uber & Lyft :
The designated Uber and Lift drop-off point for the Festival is at the remote lot at Ben et Academy located at 2200 Maple Avenue, Lisle, IL 60532. From this point it is a very short shuttle bus ride into the Festival. This is the only authorized area to use. No access will be given to other restricted areas of the festival.

Parking Lots :
There is parking at 2 locations with free shuttle buses taking visitors to the front entrance of the festival.Shuttles run during festival hours only! Shuttle buses start running 30 minutes before gates open.

For early morning balloon launches 5:30am – 9:30am from Benet Lot
ONLY.

Benet Academy
FREE Shuttle
At College Rd. /Yackley Ave. and Maple Ave.
2200 Maple Ave, Lisle, IL 60532

Benedictine University
Benedictine Dr, Lisle, IL 60532

Navistar
FREE Shuttle
2601 Navistar Dr. Lisle, IL 60532

Handicap Accessible:

FREE PARKING just outside of the West ticket booth.
1925 Ohio St, Lisle, IL 60532 (Enter from the West off of Yackley Avenue)

Note:
Many local businesses now sell parking spaces near the Eyes to the Skies Festival for a price.If you are paying for parking, you are not using one of the assigned festival lots, which is free!

MOTORCYCLE PARKING
Special on-site secured parking for motorcycles is available for free. To reach the parking site, take Yackley Avenue to Ohio Street, turn east and follow staff directions to the site.

BICYCLE PARKING
Available at the North gate only. A fenced area will be provided to
park and chain one’s bicycle. However, space is limited and it is available on a first come first serve basis. The Festival will not be responsible for
lost or stolen property or bicycles stored in that space.

HANDICAPPED PARKING
Handicapped accessible parking is available, but one must have a handicapped license plates or a State issued permit to qualify.
Take Ogden to Yackley Avenue. Go south on Yackley to Ohio Street, turn
East where security personnel will direct you to the handicapped parking site.

SERENA’S SONG
Parking for Serenea’s Song only is located on the east side of the Festival Grounds off of Short Street. Security at the East Entrance at the corner of Short Street and Route 53 will help with access and free parking.

Travel ideas in the Midwest region

If you are looking for fun ideas for a Spring and Summer time travel, in and around the midwest region, listed below are few suggestions. These are places you could visit on a long weekend or take a road trip with family and friends.

The Bottom Line

My hope for you is that, you experience a hot air balloon ride at least once in a lifetime, its an experience you will remember. There are many hot air balloon festivals happening around the world.

If you are in the Midwest region or are visiting in summer, you must not miss this ‘Eyes in The Skies’ Hot Air balloon Festival.

Would love to hear what you think about this festival.Do share your feedback in the comments below.