January is one of the best months to be outside in the Phoenix area. This guide comes from the Arizona Balloon Classic team, so it's about our festival: how to spend a January weekend at ABC16, January 15–17, 2027, at Wild Horse Pass Festival Grounds in Chandler.
Why January works outdoors
Phoenix's normal January high is about 68°F, with lows around 46°F (National Weather Service, 1991–2020 normals). Mild, sunny afternoons and cold, calm mornings are also exactly what hot air balloons need. Calm air at sunrise is why the balloon launches happen early.
Sunrise is around 7:30 AM and sunset around 5:45 PM in mid-January. Arizona doesn't change its clocks, so festival times are Mountain Standard Time all year.
A full Saturday or Sunday at the festival
- 7 AM: gates open. Grab a coffee and find a spot near Airstream Field.
- 7:30–8:30 AM: Morning Balloon Launches. Pilots fly in from off-site and compete for targets on the field.
- 7–10 AM: Tethered Balloon Rides for a short ride up and back down ($30 adults, $15 kids 12 & under, sold on site).
- 11 AM–4 PM: the Classic Car Show, plus the Duncan Food Fest Experience, Live Local Music, and shopping.
- From 4:30 PM: evening tethered rides start again.
- 7–9 PM: Evening Desert Glows. Balloons light up on the ground after dark.
General Admission is one entry, so if you want to leave and come back between the morning and evening balloons, a Classic Pass covers unlimited re-entry all weekend.
A Friday night out
On Friday, gates open at 4 PM. Come for dinner at the Duncan Food Fest Experience, live music, and the first Evening Desert Glow of the weekend from 7–9 PM. There's no morning launch on Friday.
A January outing for families
- Kids 12 and under get in free.
- The Family Fun Zone has free inflatables, plus cotton candy, kettle corn, toys, and souvenirs.
- Tethered rides are a gentle first balloon experience for kids.
- Bring layers. Mornings and evenings get cold, even when the afternoon is warm.
Visiting from out of town
ABC16 is in Chandler, in the southeast Phoenix area, at 19593 S 48th St, Chandler, AZ 85226, in the Gila River Indian Community. Parking is $10 per vehicle, paid to Wild Horse Pass. Balloon flights depend on the weather, so if seeing balloons in the air is the goal, plan for both weekend mornings. That's an easy fit with a three-day Classic Pass.
Book your stay early for the festival weekend, and check the Parking & Arrival page before you go.
Tickets
Tickets are on sale now. General Admission is $15–$22 depending on when you buy, and weekend passes start at $79. Active military and veterans get in free with valid military or veteran ID. See Tickets & Admission for today's prices, or go straight to the official ABC16 box office.
Published . Updated . Event details are subject to change, and balloon activities are weather permitting.