49th Annual ClovisFest & Hot Air Balloon
Fun Fly
September 28 and 29, 2024 in Old Town Clovis
Saturday, September 28th 8am-5pm &
Sunday, September 29th 8am-5pm
September in the Central Valley means hot air balloons, shopping and family entertainment. The Clovis Chamber of Commerce will host the 49th annual ClovisFest and Noble Credit Union Hot Air Balloon Fun Fly, a Clovis Chamber Event, this September. Join thousands of Clovis and Fresno locals in visiting Old Town Clovis for free, family fun at the upcoming 49th Annual ClovisFest! Visit the Fresno/Clovis Convention & Visitors Bureau‘s ClovisFest International Village on 4th street – where you and your family will experience cultural adventures and wonderful live performances. Join the community in feasting your eyes on a wide range of hot air balloons, unique craft vendors, festival foods, and our cultural adventure. Get to the Clovis Rodeo grounds before sunrise and feast your eyes on the majestic hot air balloons readying for takeoff! You’ll want to arrive very early on Saturday and Sunday to ensure a good vantage point to watch these beauties launch. Most often, our balloon pilots begin inflating around 6:15 am and plan for liftoff at dawn, weather permitting. Visitors will be able to enjoy delicious breakfast items while they wait for the festivities to begin. Unfortunately, balloon rides are not available to the public however tethered rides are available. Hot Air Balloon Rides are $20 per person. Tickets are sold on the morning of the event. The balloon goes up 100 ft and back down on a tethered rope. Children must be able to stand, no infants or babies. No pets allowed.
Vendors are required to cover liability insurance naming The Clovis Chamber of Commerce and The City of Clovis as additionally insured. If you are a new vendor and would first like to request an approval before purchasing insurance please email [email protected]. If you do not have general liability insurance and would like to purchase insurance please visit ACT insurance. Vendors can receive $5.00 off with coupon code clovis325.
Where To Find Major Attractions:
Hot Air Balloon Fun Fly – Clovis Rodeo Grounds (Arrive early morning, around 6 am for best viewing position)
Street Fair with Vendors & Festival Foods – On Pollasky Avenue between 3rd Street and 8th Street in Old Town Clovis opens at 8am.
International Village – Enter at Pollasky & 4th street for live entertainment and cultural booths
Inflatable Attractions – Located on the east side of 4th Street & Pollasky Avenue (Near Two Cities Coffee)
Kids Zone – Located on the east side of 5th Street & Pollasky Avenue
Made In Clovis & Children’s Business Fair – Located on Pollasky Avenue between 7th and 8th Streets
ClovisFest spans over twelve city blocks where you’ll discover over 300 craft and commercial vendor booths, in addition to our International Village. After the early morning hot air balloon launch, walk across to Pollasky Avenue where family fun begins! Visit our the Fresno/Clovis Convention & Visitors Bureau ClovisFest International Village, featuring live multicultural performances, storytelling and various booths selling international food and wares.
Interested in being a performer in the International Village or having a cultural booth with the potential to perform? Download our application & submit to Priscilla Montell at the Clovis Chamber of Commerce with the deposit. Follow the official ClovisFest Facebook page for updates and details on everything leading up to this event! If great food is on your agenda, stop at the many vendors along Pollasky for kettle corn, shaved ice, cotton candy, delicious smoothies, and more. Then go to the Bullard Food Court, where you’ll find a diverse selection of old favorites as well as some new, more exotic menus to try out. Enjoy a cool Pepsi product or hot coffee with a wide range of savory and sweet treats to suit any taste throughout the entire ClovisFest event.
Made In Clovis was developed as a way to showcase the amazing work of local creators who embody the do-it-yourself spirit and want to share their talents with an appreciative audience. Made in Clovis is part invention, part innovation, and all creativity. It’s a celebration for tech wizards, crafters, tinkerers, food artisans, hobbyists, engineers, science buffs, artists, students, and commercial organizations.
This event is for those who have succeeded in building a better mousetrap, or perhaps created something to solve a problem that we didn’t know existed, and everything in between. Made In Clovis participants will be featured in a special section of ClovisFest in Old Town Clovis on September 28 & 29, 2024. The owner/applicant/creator must erect their booth/display in their assigned location and must be on-site at their booth both Saturday, September 28 and Sunday, September 29 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Participants must apply for acceptance into the Made In Clovis section of ClovisFest.
If accepted, you will receive a booth space in the Made In Clovis section of ClovisFest at a very low rate. During the event, selected participants will be visited by local business leaders, mentors, city officials, and entrepreneurs who will appraise each participant and select several to receive follow-up mentoring, training, and resources to further expand their business/invention or idea. Our goal is to find the best, most creative participants with the best ideas and help them reach greater success. Think of Made In Clovis as a type of “Shark Tank” without the sharks and without the tank.
For more information on eligibility and how to apply visit Made In Clovis at ClovisFest
If you’re thinking about visiting the Central Valley, the city of Clovis is a great place to start. Located in the heart of California, it is the only area in America that is 1 ½ hours away from three national parks – Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon.
If you love the beach, a 3 hour day trip takes you to Morro Bay and Pismo while an hour jaunt east will land you in our Land of Lakes with great fishing and water sports. In the winter, the mountains offer top notch skiing.
But if you want to stay around town, there’s plenty to keep you busy.
Volunteer at ClovisFest:
Volunteers are the backbone of our community events. Your volunteerism allows us to bring thousands of people to our community and serve hundreds of businesses. Students can receive hours towards leadership services. Be part of our crew and volunteer today!
Press Releases:
Media Advisory for September 23, 2023
48th Annual ClovisFest Hot Air Balloon Fun Fly & International Village – 9/23/24-9/24/23
“Made In Clovis” Returns To ClovisFest
Read the 2023 ClovisFest Tabloid Insert:
Past Articles & News:
Media Advisory for September 23, 2022
Media Advisory for September 23, 2022
47th Annual ClovisFest Hot Air Balloon Fun Fly & International Village – 9/16/22
Official Hashtag:
#CLOVISFEST24
Pets:
According to the city of Clovis ordinance, pets are NOT allowed at Old Town events. This includes those carried or pushed in a cart. Please respect your fellow visitors and leave Fido at home. There are many children in strollers who are at your pet’s eye and mouth level. Thank you.
Hours:
Balloon inflation starts on both days at 6:15 am. Lift off at 7 am, weather permitting, no public rides available. Festival Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 8 – 5 pm Due to pilot liability, no public rides will be given.
Directions:
Balloon lift off is from the Clovis Rodeo Grounds on the east side of Clovis Avenue between Fifth Street and Bullard.
- GPS setting:
- 748 Rodeo Dr, Clovis
- Coming from Highway 99 going north:
- Take the Clovis Avenue exit (south of Fresno) to the right and travel about 12 miles to Old Town Clovis. When you pass Shaw Avenue, you’re almost there
- Coming from Highway 99 going south:
- Take the 180 exit (just past Belmont Ave), continue to Hwy 168 exit to Clovis. Take the Bullard Exit, travel east and follow the signs
- GPS setting:
- 325 Pollasky Ave, Clovis (location of the Chamber of Commerce within the festival)
Parking:
Parking is free in surrounding lots and streets. The largest lot is located at the Clovis Rodeo Grounds, on the east side of Clovis Ave between Bullard and 5th Streets GPS setting: 748 Rodeo Dr, Clovis. The Explorers Police Cadets will escort you across Clovis Ave to the festival. Handicapped parking is located at Fifth and Clovis on both the north and south sides of Fifth street and in the American Legion parking lot at 4th street and Woodworth.
Hotel Accommodations
| Hotel | Phone | Website |
| Comfort Suites – Clovis | (559) 299-9992 | http://www.comfortsuites.com/hotel/ca825 |
| Courtyard by Marriott Clovis Fresno | (559) 917-5124 | https://www.marriott.com/hotels/fact-sheet/travel/fatcc-courtyard-fresno-clovis/ |
| Courtyard Sierra Vista | ||
| Fairfield by Marriott Fresno Yosemite International | (559) 825-5200 | http://marriott.com/FATAP |
| Fairfield Inn & Suites | (559) 323-8080 | http://www.marriott.com/fatcv |
| Hampton Inn & Suites Clovis | (559) 348-0000 | |
| Home2 Suites Clovis/Fresno | (559) 940-6001 | |
| Homewood Suites by Hilton, Clovis | (559) 292-4004 | |
| Hotel Piccadilly | (559) 348-5520 | http://www.hotel-piccadilly.com |
| Towne Place Suites | (559) 251-7800 |
