CATHEDRAL CITY, CA – Agua Caliente Casinos is the presenting sponsor of the 10th Annual Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival, running Friday, Nov. 22 to Sunday, Nov. 24. In their fourth year as presenting sponsor, Agua Caliente will kick off the event by launching their custom balloon, joined by various weekend-long festivities including live entertainment, themed food and drinks, and an after-party.
“We are proud to be the presenting sponsor to such an important annual event in the Coachella Valley. Every November, people come from all over the world to witness the hot air balloons take flight and to experience the beauty these magnificent balloons bring to our clear desert skies,” said Pearl Aguinaldo, Senior Director of Marketing at Agua Caliente Casinos. “We welcome festival goers to any of our three Agua Caliente Casinos properties throughout the weekend to unwind in between festival events and to enjoy the world-class gaming, entertainment and amenities that each casino offers.”
The festival starts Friday at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa with a hot air balloon launch at 7:00 am, free for spectators. That evening, the 10th-anniversary celebration at Cathedral City Amphitheater from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm includes food trucks, live entertainment, a movie screening of Up, and a drone light show.
On Saturday, Nov. 23, the morning begins with another balloon launch at the Westin Rancho Mirage, also free for spectators. Later, Cathedral City Festival Lawn opens at 2:00 pm with live entertainment, a beer garden, and artisan market. For a chance to win a private balloon ride, guests can enter the “Up, Up, & Away” drawing at Agua Caliente Casino, Cathedral City from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Saturday evening features a headline concert by LeAnn Rimes at the Cathedral City Amphitheater, followed by a hot air balloon glow at Agua Caliente Casino, Cathedral City, with festivities including a live DJ, face painting, and a taco cart. The evening wraps up with a 21+ after-party featuring Dance Dance Evolution and dining specials.
The festival concludes Sunday with a final balloon launch at the Westin Rancho Mirage.
“Cathedral City is thrilled to host the newly rebranded Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival, in partnership with Fantasy Balloon Flights and our generous presenting sponsor, Agua Caliente Casinos,” said Cathedral City Mayor Mark Carnevale. “This signature event, which recently earned accolades as a 2023 Champion of Hospitality from Visit Greater Palm Springs, draws visitors from across the globe to our beautiful region. The festival not only boosts our local economy, but it also offers residents and visitors one of the most captivating and memorable experiences in the entire Coachella Valley.”
The Annual Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival has grown over its short time span from attracting several thousand attendees locally from its inception in 2015 to bringing in more than 25,000 regional attendees.