A glimpse of Pampanga’s Hot Air Balloon Festival!

Are you looking for a fun and colorful activity this January? Looking for a hang out place best suited with your family and friends? A place to sit back, relax and unwind? Want to see a glance of an alluring sky that shouts joy and excitement to those who get to see it? Want a glimpse of these incredibly eye-catching balloons, filling up the wide blue skies? Then what are you waiting for? Let’s go visit Pampanga’s most known event, Hot Air Balloon Festival!

Looks fun tho, I knew the event when I saw a post from Facebook. Was a big fan of Hot Air Balloons since I was young, so without a doubt, I asked my friends to come with me, and ended up enjoying the beautiful view of the place. Solid!

Elijah T. Tanqueco

Before this Festival became the biggest sports event in the Philippines, the annual festival was started then by Mina Gabor, a Tourism Secretary, together with three of her friends and a hot air balloon pilot in 1994. It was remembered that a massive eruption occurred in Mt. Pinatubo. Three years after that, the hot air balloon festival then aimed to jump start Pampanga’s economy. Also one objective of the event was to position the province, as a center of aviation in the Philippines.

This festival is an annual event, which happens between January and February that takes place at Clark Freeport Zone, specifically at Omni Aviation Complex. Multi-colored hot air balloons flying around the field are the main features of the annual festival. This longest-running sports and aviation festivity won’t be a success without the numbers of wide colorful and hot air balloons. Hot air balloons that mesmerized the people’s eyes and hooked up the attention of the people.

Can’t help but look up at the skies once the event starts. I no longer can take my eyes off the skies. It’s just too relaxing and too fun to watch. Worth the effort to travel from Manila to here!

Reginald V. Ones

But do you think the event ends up with just the blue skies and the fascinating hot air balloons in the sky? Stop right there! Because there is more to see, more to experience and more to enjoy with your friends and family!

A glimpse of Fun Activities!

Other aero sports such as paragliding, skydiving, motorized hang gliding and kite flying were introduced. Other regular attractions since then were also conducted by the Philippine Air Force. Isn’t it exciting? You won’t just get the chance to spot hot air ballons in the sky, but also have the chance to indulge with the different aero sport activities!

Here are some of them:

1. Aerobatic exhibitions (courtesy of the Philippine Air Force)
2. Chase crew and off-road driving
3. General aviation balloon bursting
4. General aviation formation
5. Gliding
6. Hot air ballooning
7. Kite flying
8. Micro light and ultra-light flying
9. Powered paragliding
10. Radio controlled aircraft (RC aircraft) flying
11. Search and rescue flight demonstrations (courtesy of the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy)
12. Skydiving
13. Static aircraft scale modeling
14. Tandem paragliding
15. Tandem skydiving

Here are some glimpse of the activities being held during this annual event:

And of course, the most highlited activity during this annual event…

Simply spectacular! In my opinion, it’s a one-of-a-kind festival that should be everyone’s Philippine travel bucket list. For the first time in my life, I experienced a hot air balloon festival that filled the skies of Pampanga with colors and life. And there was so many fascinating hot air balloon designs on this festival, too. From spaceship to movie themes. My favorite was the Darth Vader Balloon.

Aldrich Infantado

How to get there?

This event is yearly held at Clark Freeport Zone. There are ways to get there.

OPTION 1: MANILA TO CLARK BY CAR

Via NLEX. If you want to travel at your own pace by bringing your car, you can drive along the length of NLEX until you reach Dau Exit. Pay the toll and make a left turn going to Angeles City. Continue driving until you reach the point where you should make a right turn going to Clark. This option is perfect for those who like to make a stopover at Angeles City.

From Cubao or Pasay terminal, take a Dagupan-bound bus. Alight at Dau-Mabalacat Bus Terminal in Pampanga. Take a short walk to MacArthur Highway. From there, you can either take the jeepney or hire a tricycle. The jeepney or the tricycle can get you directly to the Clark Gate. Ride a jeepney or take a taxi to your hotel or to the attraction you want to visit.

source: https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2019/02/clark-itinerary-airport-budget-trip/?fbclid=IwAR0-Ctn_4KCigThWzoiT4EFAyL3hopNzHGIn7tXGO4orA15B4zHOpe-y1Zc

OPTION 2: Via NLEX-SCTEX. 

From NLEX, continue driving until you reach the exit leading to SCTEX. Decide the best road option for you based on your itinerary: Clark South (Exit) Interchange is located near the Clark Main Gate, while Clark North (Exit) Interchange is near Nayong Pilipino.

The good thing about bringing your own car is that you can do stopover and restroom breaks whenever you need to. In our case, we went further north to have our breakfast at PTT Station’s Café Amazon along SCTEX northbound lane in Bamban, Tarlac. But the interesting part aside from the drinks (try the Iced Thai Milk Tea) and the pastries (I love the Mango Torte and Revel Bar) is PTT’s Restroom 20.

source: https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2019/02/clark-itinerary-airport-budget-trip/?fbclid=IwAR0-Ctn_4KCigThWzoiT4EFAyL3hopNzHGIn7tXGO4orA15B4zHOpe-y1Zc

With just these steps, you’ll reach the place where Pampanga’s Hot Air Balloon Festival is being held! Make sure to be early so you won’t miss out the events and activities to be conducted! Parking lots are also not a problem for those group of family, friends, or any of your loved ones!

“As the saying goes. “The early bird cathches the worm.” Not only willl you be able to catch the flight of the hot air balloons, you’ll also get a parking spot.”

A glimpse of the blue skies, a glimpse of the people’s smiles. A glimpse of tomorrow, so you’ll have a hint of what would it be. A chance to live, explore and be happy.

“It’s an 11/10 for me. Me and my friends enjoyed the event, although it only happens once a year. Small amount of time, but many memories were shared together. Masaya! Will probably visit again for the next year’s event!”

Patricia Hispano

Pampanga’s Hot Air Balloon Festival is indeed an event not just meant to show off what they have, but it’s goal is also to make people happy and make them live their life to the fullest! “Time you enjoy wasting is not a wasted time.” Stand up, smile, look up and relax!

Fascinating views from the skies above, will surely bring happiness to you, and the ones you love!

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