Photo by Abby Boling
Groundbreaking: Outdoor Balloon Adventure (Phase 1)
October 8, 2025
We are excited to share special moments from the groundbreaking of the Outdoor Balloon Adventure space (phase one). Thank you to everyone who joined us and became an active part of the groundbreaking celebration.
In addition, at the Balloon Museum we are happy to announce a generous challenge grant from the Jim and Marlene Winker Charitable Trust, which will match private donations to the Outdoor Balloon Adventure project up to $100,000 exclusively during Balloon Fiesta 2025. This unique opportunity doubles the impact of every donation made during the nine-day festival, helping to accelerate completion. The Winker family presented the Balloon Museum with an initial donation to kick-start this landmark project at last year’s Balloon Fiesta.
All donations are processed through our partner the Balloon Museum Foundation 501(c )3 which is a separate entity. Donations made to this non-profit are tax deductible.
DONATE: HELP MAKE PHASE TWO POSSIBLE
Learn More About the Outdoor Balloon Adventure Exhibit
"We are excited that the Balloon Museum is a place for all generations. When meeting with some colleagues who work in balloon manufacturing, they described the vision of this Outdoor Balloon Adventure as 'a place for children under the age of 100,' and I love that as the magic of ballooning really does bring out the kid in all of us. Play is such a critical thing for everyone, and we don't get enough time in our lives to play. So, we are excited to be breaking ground on a space that gives visitors at any age the opportunity to have fun, explore, and learn."
-- Nan Masland, Director of the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum
Event Highlights