Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) is an annual four-day air-sporting event that takes place between January and February at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. It is one of the longest-running aviation sports events in the Philippines. The fiesta hosts over 100 balloon pilots from around the world and attracts approximately 100,000 visitors annually.
In addition to hot air balloon displays, the event has included the following activities:
The Mount Pinatubo volcano erupted in 1991, devastating the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. To boost the economy and lift the spirits of its residents, the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival was introduced in 1994.
Former tourism secretary Narzalina Lim, aviation enthusiast Max Motschmann, and British Airways general manager John Emery jointly organized the festival. They collaborated with other local and international partners to position the Philippines as a premier sport aviation and travel hub in the Asia-Pacific region.
After the 1994 festival, participation grew to 27 balloons, including a non-basket one-man balloon and two entries from the Philippines. The 1995 festival also saw the introduction of ultralight planes to the event.
In 1996, the event was transferred from the Department of Tourism to Air Ads, Inc. under Captain Joy Roa. Between 1996 and 1998, the growing popularity of the festival was expanded to include other aero-sports activities:
Aerobatic stunts and precision maneuvers courtesy of the Blue Diamonds and later the Red Aces of the Philippine Air Force also became a regular attraction of the festival.
In 1999, financial challenges led to the festival's temporary discontinuation. The event resumed in 2000, featuring 12 balloons. Further attractions included an air rally comprising 18 light aircraft from Thailand, Japan, and Singapore, which has since become a regular part of the celebrations.
The event in 2003 marked a significant departure from the conventional ballooning format with the introduction of specially crafted balloons. Examples of themed balloons included a flying newspaper from South Korea and a large dog from Japan.
The 2006 festival featured 30 multicolored hot air balloons, and more than a hundred balloon pilots. It drew approximately 60,000 visitors to the event.
In 2017, the 21st Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta showcased 30 hot air balloons. The award-winning Twinz Aerobatic Paragliders, as well as former members of the British Red Devils participated in the event. The Fiesta's main theme was "Exchange of Cultures," a tribute to aviation's contributions in "making the world smaller." In addition to aviation enthusiasts, the Fiesta also invited artists and performers from around the world. These included Turkish folk dancers, carpet makers, and ceramic masters; international singers from South Africa, Samoa, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe; and the Amganad Music and Dance Ensemble from Banaue, Philippines.
In 2020, the PIRANHA was not held at its usual venue in Clark, Pangaea citing a "lack of government commitment" to be involved in the event amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the organizers held a hot air balloon festival, which they dubbed "Flying Carnival 2020", at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Cardamon, Cavity.
This fiesta went on hiatus in 2021, due largely to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 24th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta was held in New Clark City from February 16 to 18, 2024 with the inaugural Skydiving Philippine Flag Jump ceremony. 18 hot air balloons participated, reaching sizes of up to 30 meters and altitudes of up to 12,000 feet.