Up, up and away: This WV city sky will light up with hot air balloons

The skies over Morgantown will light up with all the colors of the rainbow this weekend when 14 hot air balloons launch during Balloons Over Morgantown.

Festivities begin Thursday at the Morgantown Mall with NightGlow, when the balloons are inflated but remain tethered. An orange flame will illuminate them from within, making them glow and light up the night. This is a unique opportunity to get up close to the balloons and take some beautiful photos. (All the balloons are expected to be inflated by 6:30 p.m, so get there early if you want to watch them inflate!)

Five balloon launches will take place from the Morgantown Airport beginning Friday morning through Sunday afternoon. Exact launch times are dependent upon weather and setup. (Check the event website for more information about launch times.)

Once the balloons launch, you can track their locations on Facebook and Twitter. How many balloons can you spot? Fans are welcome to “chase” the balloons by following them around until they land — when they can help pack up.

While You’re There…

Ride your bicycle or take a stroll on one of the biking/walking trails that make up the Mon River Trails Conservancy in Morgantown. You can scout for balloons while you enjoy the fresh air and mild fall weather.

Grab lunch at one of Morgantown’s popular local dining hot spots like Black Bear Burritos, Mario’s Fishbowl or Atomic Grill.

Take a detour to Coopers Rock State Forest for a hike or a picnic. Fall color is peaking in the Cheat River Canyon and Coopers Rock is only minutes from Morgantown.

Visit Forks of Cheat Winery for a tour and tasting of their handcrafted West Virginia wines.

Staying overnight? You’ll find plenty of lodging options here, from the upscale suites of Lakeview Golf Resort and Spa to the wooded tent campsites at Coopers Rock to numerous quality chain hotels throughout the area.

This post was last updated on March 17, 2022