Hudson Hot Air Affair February 4-6, 2022

The Hudson Hot Air Affair is the premier winter ballooning event and winter festival in the Midwest. Thousands of visitors head to the 33rd annual event that will take over the skies of the St. Croix River city. About 35 colorful hot air balloons, including special shaped balloons, launch in mass ascensions Saturday and Sunday mornings and light up the night at the Saturday evening Moon Glow or Field of Fire. Several events will be held over the weekend as part of the festival, which will celebrate camping with the theme “S’Mores and More, Balloon Galore.”

Location:  E.P. Rock school grounds, 340 13th Street South, Hudson, WI 54016

Date: February 4-6, 2022

EVENT SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2022

BALLOONING EDUCATION PROGRAM: Learn how the beautiful hot air balloons fly in the Hot Air Affair printable educational booklet.  A downloadable booklet will be available in February

HOT AIR AFFAIR GEOCACHING OUTDOOR FUN:  Throughout the Hudson area. Go to www.geocaching.com for coordinates of winter friendly geocaches in Hudson and the St. Croix Valley. NEW geocaches hidden in the immediate Hudson area.

EAT SHOP PLAY: The unique shops, fun destinations and outstanding restaurants of Hudson and the surrounding area invite you to check out their winter offerings.  Look for special promotions and events ideal for your winter outings in the Hudson area.  

TORCHLIGHT “S’MORES and MORE, BALLOONS GALORE” PARADE: Featuring prizes for the best overall parade unit, the best unit by hot air balloonist, the best “S’Mores and More, Balloons Galore” themed unit and the best kazoo marching band.  Hot air balloon pilots and crews displaying blasts of fire.  Parade participants line up at 6 pm at Wells Fargo Bank parking lot and parade travels down Second Street.

FIREWORKS DISPLAY: Immediately after parade over Lakefront Park and the St. Croix River.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2022

PANCAKE BREAKFAST at the MASONIC TEMPLE 7am-noon: Includes pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, biscuits & gravy, fruit, beverages. $8 adults, $4 kids under 12. Takeout available! Located at 209 Locust Street, Hudson, WI 54016

FOOD DRIVE for the HUDSON FOOD SHELF: Pop in, donate, pop out with your non-perishable donations for the Hudson Food Shelf. Located at 505 13th Street S., Hudson, WI 54016

BALLOON LAUNCH 7:35am: 30+ hot air balloons in mass ascension flight.  Event highlight!  Inflations and flights are weather dependent.  Concessions and souvenirs available. Located at E.P. Rock school grounds, 340 13th Street S., Hudson, WI 54016

MARKETPLACE and CRAFT FAIR 8am-8pm: Craft and souvenir selection with special winter apparel, ballooning and Hot Air Affair emphasis.  Visit the Hot Air Affair booth for souvenirs, Hot Air Affair apparel and collectibles.  Hot food and drinks available in cafeteria by local non-profit groups. Located at E.P. Rock school grounds, 340 13th Street S., Hudson, WI 54016

HOT AIR AFFAIR GEOCACHING OUTDOOR FUN:  Throughout the Hudson area. Go to www.geocaching.com for coordinates of winter friendly geocaches in Hudson and the St. Croix Valley. NEW geocaches hidden in the immediate Hudson area.

EAT SHOP PLAY: The unique shops, fun destinations and outstanding restaurants of Hudson and the surrounding area invite you to check out their winter offerings.  Look for special promotions and events ideal for your winter outings in the Hudson area.

HOT AIR BALLOON MOON GLOW or FIELD OF FIRE 6:30pm: Hot air balloons light up the dark so bring your camera for this spectacular event!  In case of windy weather, Moon Glow becomes a Field of Fire.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2022

BALLOON LAUNCH 7:35am: 30+ hot air balloons in mass ascension flight.  Event highlight!  Inflations and flights are weather dependent.  Located at E.P. Rock school grounds, 340 13th Street S., Hudson, WI 54016

EAT SHOP PLAY: The unique shops, fun destinations and outstanding restaurants of Hudson and the surrounding area invite you to check out their winter offerings.  Look for special promotions and events ideal for your winter outings in the Hudson area.

FREE KIDS’ ICE FISHING CONTEST 1-3pm: Fishing on Perch Lake near the boat landing by Homestead Park.  Equipment and mentors on site.  Information available about county parks, annual park passes and merchandise.  More info at 715-531-1932 or cdd@sccwi.gov.

PARKING

There is parking on the streets around E.P. Rock Elementary School. This year, to allow for better traffic flow and pedestrian safety, there will be parking on only one side of the street around the school grounds. There is limited handicap parking available in the schools central parking lot (enter form Frear Street). The Newton Field parking lot is located north of the school on Frear Street. The Mt. Zion Lutheran Church lot on Summer Street and the Hudson United Methodist Church on Laurel Ave. are available on Saturday. 

A complete schedule of events can be found at hudsonhotairaffair.com.