Balloons on the Ridge: Hot Air Balloon Weekend on Seneca Lake — September 25–27 at Idol Ridge Winery

Hot air balloons rise at dawn over Seneca Lake vineyards. That is the image at the center of Balloons on the Ridge, a three-day festival coming to Idol Ridge Winery in Lodi at the end of September. There are sunrise and sunset balloon flights, tethered rides for anyone who wants their feet to leave the ground without committing to altitude, live music all weekend, food trucks, and — Friday night — an illuminated Balloon Glow Show when the envelopes light up against the dark. The winery is in Lodi on Seneca Lake, and it is already one of the more beautiful spots in the region. This takes it somewhere genuinely spectacular.

Date: Friday–Sunday, September 25–27, 2026 Time: Begins Friday at 4:00 PM; runs through Sunday 5:00 PM Location: Idol Ridge Winery, 9059 State Route 414, Lodi, NY (Seneca Lake) Cost: Free admission; $10 parking (Friday–Saturday); tethered rides $25; balloon flights through Freedom Ballooning (booked separately)

Book balloon flights in advance through Freedom Ballooning via the event page at mfwineriesdistilleries.com/events/balloons-on-the-ridge/. Walk-in admission is free — tethered rides go first-come.