Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Contents
1. What
time does the Flying Circus open during the Balloon Festival??
2. What
do I need to be there so early in the morning?
3. Will
the Hot Air Balloons be launching/flying all day?
4. What
times will the Hot Air Balloons launch?
5. How
do I purchase a Hot Air Balloon ride?
6. How
much does a Hot Air Balloon ride usually cost?
7. Are
credit cards or checks accepted for Hot Air Balloon rides?
8. Will
you offer Tethered Hot Air Balloon rides?
9. Can
I purchase Hot Air Balloon rides in advance?
10. Do
you have contact information for any of the Hot Air Balloon pilots that are
selling rides?
11. How
do I find out if the Balloon launches or the airshow has been canceled?
13. When
do you start/end the airplane rides?
14. Can
I reserve an airplane ride in advance?
15. Can
I choose the airplane I want to ride in?
16. Can
we bring in our own food and drinks, or can we purchase food and drinks on
site??
17. Is
there any place to sit and eat in the shade?
19. What
if I have a gift certificate for an airplane ride?
20. Are
there public restrooms available?
21. Is
the airshow accessible to persons in a wheelchair, or that require assistance
walking?
Our gates open at 06:00 on both Saturday
and Sunday. It is best to arrive well
before 07:00 as the line to get in will often back up with late arriving
guests.
Balloons will be launching around 0730, if you don’t arrive early,
you may miss the inflations and launches.
No.
Hot Air Balloons can only be operated when the winds are calm and the
temperature is not too high. This is usually only early in the morning, and
later in the evening.
Hot Air Balloon inflations will start
around 07:00, and the balloons will launch shortly thereafter. In the late
afternoon (after 6:00 PM) inflations/launches will resume as soon as the
temperatures and wind allows
The Flying Circus does not sell Hot Air
Balloon Rides. They must be purchased directly from the Balloon Pilots. Contact
information for the Balloon Pilots will be posted outside the gift shop. Pilots
selling rides in advance will be listed on our website as their info becomes
available.
For 2022, the price will be $300 per person.
Most balloon pilots will take major credit cards, some may also
accept checks – but you will have to ask the individual pilot.
Weather and winds permitting; we usually have at least one Tethered
Hot Air Balloon, these only rise to about 50 feet. Rides are usually around $10/child-$15/adult.
These rides are cash only. Additionally, we will have a partially inflated balloon
available to walk through and take pictures from the inside.
Only if you contact the Balloon Pilots in advance. See question 5
We are working with the Balloon Pilots to get contact information.
The contact information will be posted on the Balloon Festival page (http://www.flyingcircusairshow.com/balloon.html) as soon as it is available. You can also
check our Balloon Festival Event on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/flyingcircusairshow
For known weather events (e.g. predicted
rain, wind, low clouds) - A cancellation notice will be posted on the Flying
Circus Airshow home page and on social media. Additionally, the voice mail on
our phone (540-439-8661) is updated with a cancellation notice.
We try to let everyone know as soon as possible on the day of the
show (or sooner if the weather is predicted to be an issue). However, weather
predictions are not always reliable, and the weather in parts of DC, MD, or VA,
may be quite different then what we see in Bealeton. Please check our website and social media
frequently if you have any concerns.
We will be offering airplane rides starting around 07:00AM, and
will be offering them throughout the day until about 12:30PM. After the airshow
(~3:45) we will resume the ride operation until all rides are finished, or
until it gets too late to continue flying..
All our airplane rides are on a first-come, first-served basis. All
our ride tickets are numbered, and they are called out in that order. Purchase early in the day to expedite your
ride.
Our pilots take turns to distribute the rides evenly. We will try
to accommodate special requests, but we may have to send other riders up ahead
of you until your preferred pilot/airplane comes up in the rotation. Additionally, if you are requesting a
particular aircraft for a standard ride, and the aircraft is primarily used for
aerobatic rides, or double (two passenger) rides, you may have to wait until all
those specialty rides are finished before we could put you in the airplane for
a standard ride. This waiting process
could take hours on balloon festival, so please keep this in mind before
requesting a specific pilot or aircraft..
Yes, outside food
and beverages are permitted. We also have a snack bar that offers good food at
reasonable prices. We have Hamburgers,
Hot Dogs, Nachos, Pepsi products, Ice Cream, etc. For this event we will also
have some additional food vendors on site
We have a large
shaded picnic area with picnic tables available for use on a first-come
basis. We also have a large pavilion
that, if not rented out, is also available on a first-come basis
Yes they are --- But there are a few restrictions ….. And a cautionary note:
·
Pets
must be kept on a leash at all times. Pets “off leash” are a danger to
our aircraft and crew if they are loose near the planes
·
Pet
owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets
·
Pet
owners are responsible for ensuring that their pets do not become a nuisance to
our other customers.
Please note that our pyrotechnics, aircraft and even the Hot Air
Balloon (burners) are sometimes quite loud, so please keep this in mind if your
pet does not react well to sudden loud noises.
Gift
certificates are redeemed at the gift shop, and you will be issued a ride
ticket in order as described in question 14.
Yes, we have public
restrooms. Our restrooms are clean,
spacious, and handicap accessible. As we are expecting a large crowd, we will
also have additional port-a-johns available
There is
handicapped parking in the area immediately behind the audience seating
area. Depending on the row you wish to
sit in, it is only about 50 feet from the car to a bench. You are also welcome to bring your own lawn
chairs and sit in the same area. The
area is grass covered, but it is mowed & quite level. This area is also adjacent to the restrooms.