Media

Thanks for your interest in joining us for the 50th Carolina BalloonFest! 

​The countdown to the third weekend in October is underway as the Carolina BalloonFest will be celebrating our 50th festival on October 17, 18, and 19. 

Media Registration

The media application process for the 2025 Carolina BalloonFest will open in August 2025. Please check back for all the details. If you have any questions, please email media@CarolinaBalloonFest.com. 

​Media Registration will close on October 10, 2025 

Media credentials will be provided to qualified media. The media credentials include a parking pass and admission to the event via a CBF media pass. Media also has the opportunity to sign up for balloon rides (dependent upon pilot participation). 

Qualifying Media

We welcome members of the media from all media platforms including broadcast, print, photography and digital. To qualify as Carolina BalloonFest media, you must be a member of the working media, meaning that all work produced at the Carolina BalloonFest must be developed/shared for/with a larger audience, on a media platform. 

Due to the high interest of media coverage surrounding the Carolina BalloonFest, media credentials are limited. Credentials will be issued based on confirmed story assignments and samples of previous event coverage on a per case basis. 

PLEASE NOTE: Credentials are not guaranteed nor auto-granted by submission of this application. Possession of any press credential or ID does not entitle you to free access to Carolina BalloonFest. Approved media and correspondents will be published at all admission gates. 

We encourage professional and aspiring photographers and videographers to experience and capture the majestic nuances of our hot air balloons and special attractions at Carolina BalloonFest.  However, media credentials are intended for journalists & reporters assigned by their media affiliations to cover Carolina BalloonFest.  Your admission ticket supports our mission ~ we thank you! 

Drones are prohibited unless approved in advance by organizers of this festival.

Our Media Team will review all applications and will respond via Email for final focus details prior to granting media credentials. 

Apply for media access to the Festival. Post festival projects will be considered.  For review, please fill out the application below when it becomes available in August.