Fronteira, Portalegre, Portugal, Oct. 13, 2025 (Lusa) - Hot air balloons will once again “colour” the skies of Portugal's interior Alentejo region from 8 to 13 November during an international festival that brings together more than 30 teams from five European countries, the organisers announced on Monday.
The International Hot Air Balloon Festival (FIBAQ), now in its 28th year, is organised by Publibalão in collaboration with the Alentejo sem Fronteiras ballooning club, the organisers said in a statement.
Contacted by the Lusa agency, Aníbal Soares, from the organisation, explained that this year's edition will feature flights in the districts of Ponte de Sor, Avis, Alter, Monforte and Fronteira, in the region of Portalegre.
"We hold this festival in the region (Portalegre) also because of the São Martinho summer, the fields themselves and the location where we are based. When we started ballooning, we also had the support of the local authorities, who are still with us, and I think we have to promote this area, which also has very good technical characteristics," he said.
According to Aníbal Soares, this year's event is expected to attract "31 to 35 teams" from Portugal, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Belgium.
The Hot Air Balloon Festival will pass through Ponte de Sor on 8 November, followed by Montargil, also in the same district (9 November), Benavila in the district of Avis (10 November morning flight) and then Fronteira in the afternoon.
The festival will then pass through Alter do Chão (11th) and Monforte (12th), ending the following day in Fronteira.
In addition to the maiden flights, the festival hosts an annual night-time light, colour and sound show called ‘Night Glow’, in which the "flames of the hot air balloon burners are released to the rhythm of the music", taking place in Ponte de Sor.
Hot air balloon flights will take place, almost always, twice a day, at 7:00 or 7:30 a.m. and at 2:00 or 2:30 p.m., whenever weather conditions permit.
According to the promoters, those interested in flying in a hot air balloon must purchase charity and tethered flight wristbands, the proceeds of which will go to local institutions and associations, as well as to the volunteer fire brigades of the places participating in the event.
According to the organisers, the charity wristbands cost €99 per person at the weekend and €75 during the week.
"Tethered flight baptisms will have a symbolic figure of €7 per person," they add.
The festival was first held in 1997 and served as the basis for the opening, in 2012, of the country's first school for hot air balloon pilots, in Fronteira.
HYT/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
