The Amherstburg Uncommon Festival is adding RE/MAX hot air balloon rides to its Friday lineup at the new Waterfront Festival Plaza in Amherstburg, Ontario, on September 18, 2026. The festival runs September 18 to 20, with the plaza at 306 Dalhousie Street serving as a hub for a weekend of steampunk and wizardry-themed fun.
Visit Amherstburg announced the balloon rides as part of this year’s event. The RE/MAX balloon previously visited Amherstburg in June 2022, and its return is one of the highlights of the festival’s opening day.
The festival, which draws about 12,000 people over three days, includes escape rooms, live performances, food trucks, fireworks, and costume contests. It was named one of Festivals and Events Ontario’s Top 100 Festivals in 2025.
The Waterfront Festival Plaza opened on August 26, 2026, after a $3.06-million expansion of King’s Navy Yard Park. This will be its first major event. Director of Parks, Facilities and Recreation Heidi Baillargeon said the Uncommon Festival will be the plaza’s first trial run for large-scale gatherings.
Hot air balloon rides at community events are part of RE/MAX’s long-running program, which has operated for over 35 years and includes about 100 balloons across North America. In Canada, tethered balloon rides are regulated by Transport Canada under the Canadian Aviation Regulations.
The Amherstburg Uncommon Festival began in 2018 as a tribute to the Harry Potter story world and has since grown into one of the region’s most anticipated events.
