Chesapeake Bay Balloon Festival (CBBF)

Fellow Balloonist,

It is our pleasure to invite you and your team to the 2023 Chesapeake Bay Balloon Festival (CCBF) which has been moved from Cordova, MD on the eastern shore of Maryland to Harford County MD.

This event is being hosted by Triple Creek Winery (Alex Spies) and Harford County Maryland. The county is extremely excited to be hosting this year and they plan on making this an annual event.

• Registered pilots receive free propane (come full, leave full)
• Pilot Hotel Room for Pilots living further than 30 miles away
• $300 expense money
• A pilot pack
• Meals are included at most events and more
• The opportunity for commercial pilots to sell rides with the cost for a balloon ride at $350 per passenger. Pilots receive the entire amount
• Crew Rooms are offered at a reduced rate.

Rally Weekend Agenda (Subject to change)

Thursday, Aug 3
Afternoon VIP event for all corporate and select balloons.

Friday, Aug 4th
Registration / Welcome Party
Pilot Briefing
Evening Mass-Ascension
Balloon Glow (half the pilots and all Special Shapes)

Saturday, Aug 5th
Breakfast & Pilot Briefing
Morning Flight
Afternoon Pilot Briefing
Evening Mass-Ascension
Balloon Glow (half the pilots and all Special Shapes)

Sunday, Aug 6th
Breakfast & Pilot Briefing
Morning Flight
Afternoon Pilot Briefing (for those that can stay)
Evening Mass-Ascension

Flying from Cedar Lane Park will be challenging, due to parts of the Bay being 2.5 miles southeast and the restricted area 4001A just after the bay finger. To account for this, we have provisions for balloon teams, on the morning flights, to go to other locations off-site to launch. We are currently working on options for the afternoon flights if the direction does not cooperate to fly from the field. We may do short flights over the park with fun competitions to include prize money so that the event spectators can see the balloons. More to follow.

We are growing but we only have a budget for a limited number of balloons so please complete your application as soon as you can.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time.


Mark Meyer
Balloon Meister
CCBF 2023
443-797-5468