• Midway between Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC, 12 miles south of Greenville, South Carolina in Greenville County.
• Simpsonville is in the heart of the Golden Strip that consists of 3 towns: Simpsonville, Mauldin and Fountain Inn.
• This area has been one of the fastest growing areas in the Southeast for a number of years with it consistently being ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the entire country.
• South on 385 from I-85, Simpsonville is two hours from Charlotte, NC; two and one half hours from Atlanta, GA; one and one half hours from Columbia, SC; or one and one half hours from Asheville, NC.
• Northwestern side of South Carolina.

How much does the event cost? Coming soon!


Where can I get tickets for the concerts and how much do they cost? 
Coming soon!

What restrictions are there on the event grounds?
FWA is tobacco free daily 10AM - 5PM.
NO coolers, pets, glass, roller blades, golf carts, 4 wheelers, or scooters. NO overnight parking, tailgating, or alcohol in parking lots. NO video or audio taping in amphitheater. If you have a special request regarding these rules, please call the FWA office at 864-399-9481.

What should I wear to the event?
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes as the event site covers a lot of acreage. The amphitheater is a tiered grass amphitheater with walkways around the outside. Dress appropriately for the weather.

First Aid and Medical Assistance
Medshore Ambulance Service and Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center will be on the event grounds if needed.







Diaper Changing Tent
First Baptist Simpsonville will be providing a Diaper Changing and private area until 9 PM each day.  They will be located in front of the Centreplex Building (near the flags).

Handicapped Parking

To be determined

When do the hot-air balloons fly?
The best time to see the balloons is from 6-8 P.M. daily. Although the event is not open in the mornings, the balloons do fly Saturday and Monday from 7-9 A.M and may be seen from numerous areas surrounding the park.   All balloon flights are subject to weather and may be delayed or cancelled at the last minute.   Although we try to meet all flights, the safety of the pilots, crews and attendees is a top priority.

How to purchase a Hot-Air Balloon Flight or Tethered Ride? 
I always longed to take a hot air balloon flight?  Maybe you simply wanted the experience of flight in a tethered balloon ride!  You can fulfill your dream at Greenville Hospital System Freedom Weekend Aloft Presented by Pontiac GMC in Simpsonville, SC.

1. Why do flights take place so early in the morning or late in the evening?

Balloons need stable calm winds to operate effectively and the hours just after sunrise and before sunset are the best for these conditions. Since balloons move with the air, the weather is very important in deciding whether or not to fly. The pilot chooses a launch site to use the wind currents to fly towards a suitable landing site.

2. What kind of cloth is the balloon made of?

The colorful balloon or envelope (as we call it) is usually made of nylon or polyester, the same type of cloth that parachutes are made of. It is very tightly woven and is coated with a material that makes it very air tight. The nylon is only used to keep the hot air in the balloon. The basket load is transferred by steel or Kevlar cables to a series of vertical load tapes which carry the load. Balloons range in size from about 54,000 cubic feet for a one- or two-person balloon to over 300,000 cubic feet for a balloon capable of carrying a pilot plus twelve passengers.

3. Why is the basket made of wicker?

The wicker basket has proven to be very strong for its weight and is flexible. The wicker is sometimes woven around a steel or aluminum frame, which helps to support the upright posts upon which the burner is mounted. The top rim of the basket and the uprights are usually padded and covered in suede or leather.

4. How is the balloon inflated?

When the time comes to put the balloon up, the envelope is removed from the bag and laid out in a long line. The burners are attached to the uprights, and the basket is attached to the cables on the bottom of the envelope. An engine driven fan is used to inflate the envelope with cold air. When partially inflated, the air is heated by the burner and the envelope rises above the basket. With further heating, there is sufficient 'lift' for the balloon to fly.

5. What kind of fuel is used for the burners?

To heat the air, the burners are fueled by propane gas, much the same as you probably use in your backyard barbecue grill. The burners do not run continuously; they are only used intermittently to heat the air to maintain the required lift.

6. How tall are balloons?

Depending on the size and weight capacity, balloons may be eight to ten stories tall.  

7. What should I wear?

You should wear whatever you feel comfortable in since the temperature will not be much different in the air. There is really no need to dress up. You should wear the type of clothing that you would expect to wear if you are going for a walk the day of the flight. A light jacket is sometimes comfortable in the fall or early spring. Pants and layered clothing as well as covered shoes with flat soles. The majority of top clothing should be made of cotton rather than man-made fibers such as nylon. Tall passengers may find a hat useful because of the radiant heat from the burners.

8. Can I take a camera?

Yes, there is no problem in taking either a still or video camera with you during the flight. A hot air balloon makes a perfect camera platform and there is always plenty to photograph prior to, during and after to the flight. We do recommend, however, that you have a suitable soft case with you in which to stow the camera during the landing phase of the flight.

9. How long does it all take?

From start to finish, your adventure will last about 3 hours. The inflation and preparation of the balloon normally takes about 30 minutes but the flight itself normally lasts about one hour. After the flight, the pack up and first flight ceremonies take another hour. Of course travel to and from the launch field usually takes another 30 minutes.

10. Where will we land?

Good question! The simple answer is that nobody knows, exactly! The pilot will have done flight planning before the launch to ensure that the forecast wind direction does not take the balloon towards an unsuitable area. The pilot will use the different air currents at different altitudes to steer the balloon toward a good landing place.

11. How does the chase crew know where we are?

Radios or cell phones are used to stay in contact with the chase crew as well as with Air Traffic Control and other aircraft flying in the vicinity.

12. How far will we fly

Again...it depends on the wind speed. Hot Air Balloons travel with the wind and an hour flight can carry it up to 15 miles, sometimes more, sometimes less. The balloon also flies at different altitudes. Although the balloon is at the mercy of the wind when it comes to direction, the vertical control of a balloon can be very precise. It is not unusual for pilots to be able to brush the bottom of the basket across the tops of trees, or inches from the ground A leaf picked from a treetop is a very worthwhile souvenir of the flight!

13. How high do balloons fly?

Most balloonists enjoy low-level flight. The typical balloon flight would be anywhere from tree level to about 3,000 feet above the ground.

14. What if I'm afraid of heights?

Flying in a balloon basket is not like standing on a roof or a high ladder. You don't get that vertigo feeling. It feels more like the ground is unfolding beneath you, and because you are moving with the wind, there is no wind blowing or sensation of moving. The basket does not rock or sway, so don’t worry about falling out.

15. I sometimes get airsick in airplanes. Is a balloon the same?

No. The turbulence, which usually causes motion sickness is completely absent in a balloon ride. The flight of a balloon is almost too smooth to describe.

16. How do we get back to the launch field?

The balloon is followed by a chase vehicle and the crew. They are in constant contact with the balloon pilot and should be at the landing site at the same time as the balloon. Once the balloon is packed away (and the ceremonies are complete) the chase vehicle will take you back.

17. How are balloon pilots licensed?

Balloons are registered like any other aircraft and are subject to regular airworthiness checks. The FAA will not allow a balloon to be certified as airworthy unless these inspections and checks are done by authorized maintenance personnel and certified by them. All pilots are licensed by the FAA and have to pass regular flight checks.

18. Who controls ballooning and ensures safety standards?

The Federal Aviation Administration, (FAA) controls ballooning with the same strict regulations that apply to airplanes.

19. Who can fly a balloon?

The Federal Aviation Administration issues a Balloon Pilot Certificate to candidates who pass an FAA written examination, obtain a prescribed number of hours in a balloon, make a solo flight to altitude, pass a flight test, and submit a medical statement.

20. How do you steer a balloon?

The balloon goes wherever the wind takes it. However, pilots can seek higher or lower altitudes to find wind currents of various direction. We refer to it as the truest form of sailing.

21. What instruments do balloons use?

An altimeter to indicate altitude, a variometer showing its rate of climb or decent, a compass to show directions, and a temperature gage to show how hot the fabric is at the top of the balloon. Each propane tank has a fuel gauge, and the burner has a fuel pressure gauge.