Sandy puts on two free festivals that are worth the drive from Utah Valley, and they could hardly be more different. The Hot Air Balloon Festival, in early August, is a dawn event: balloons inflating and lifting off from Storm Mountain Park at sunrise on a Friday and Saturday, followed by a Saturday-night celebration at the City Promenade. The Heritage Festival, in September, is a small-town Saturday morning in Historic Sandy with a horse parade, pony rides and a classic car show.
The Hot Air Balloon Festival
Sandy's balloon festival reached its 19th year in 2026, running Friday and Saturday, August 7 and 8. The heart of it is the morning launches: at sunrise, about 6:30 a.m., balloon crews inflate and take off from Storm Mountain Park, 980 East 11400 South. Food trucks and a morning DJ keep the crowd company, children get free latex balloons, and in 2026 the city offered tethered rides that lift 50 to 80 feet off the ground, first come, first served.
Every launch is weather permitting. Hot air balloons need calm air, so a windy morning can keep them on the ground. If seeing them fly is the point of the trip, it helps to be free on both mornings.
The Saturday evening
On Saturday night the festival moves to the City Promenade in front of Sandy City Hall, 10000 South Centennial Parkway, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Sandy bills the evening as its Balloon Glow, which the city describes as balloons staying on the ground with their burners lit so they shine in the dark; like the launches, a glow depends on the weather. The 2026 evening program the city advertised was a live DJ, bounce houses, face painting, balloon creations, photo spots, food trucks and Utah Mammoth street hockey, ending with a drone show at 10 p.m.
Two city rules apply all weekend: leave personal drones at home, and leave dogs at home.
The Heritage Festival
Sandy's Heritage Festival is a September Saturday in the city's historic district. In 2026 it fell on September 19. It opens with the city's horse parade at 10 a.m., and the festival follows from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Main Street Park, 70 East 8760 South, in Historic Sandy. The 2026 program had live music, food trucks, vendors, pony rides, a petting zoo, a classic car show with awards at 1 p.m., free bounce houses, face painting and games for children.
It is the shorter of the two festivals: a morning, a parade, animals to pet, and done by 2 p.m.
Getting there from Utah County
Both festivals are close. OpenStreetMap routing puts Storm Mountain Park about 31 miles and 37 minutes from downtown Provo without traffic, the City Promenade about the same, and Historic Sandy's Main Street Park about 33 miles and 39 minutes. For a 6:30 a.m. launch, that means leaving Provo before 6. For the rest of what Sandy offers, see Things to Do in Sandy, Utah.
Practical notes
- Be there before sunrise. The balloons launch at about 6:30 a.m., and the inflation is half the show.
- Keep both mornings free. Wind can ground the balloons on either day.
- No dogs, no personal drones. Sandy asks visitors to leave both at home.
- The Heritage Festival is a morning. The horse parade starts at 10 a.m., and the festival ends at 2 p.m.
Related Guides
- Things to Do in Sandy, Utah
- Salt Lake County From Utah Valley
- The Freedom Festival Balloon Fest
- Draper Days
- Midvale Harvest Days
- Butlerville Days
- The Utah Arts Festival
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Sandy Balloon Festival?
What time do the Sandy balloons launch, and where?
What happens on the Saturday evening of the Balloon Festival?
Is the Sandy Balloon Festival free?
When is the Sandy Heritage Festival?
How far is Sandy from Provo?
Can I bring my dog or drone to the Sandy Balloon Festival?
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