The Hudson Hot Air Affair is the premier winter ballooning event and winter festival in the Midwest. Thousands of visitors head to the St. Croix Valley in west central Wisconsin.

Schedule of Events:

January 14, 2023:

5 - 6:30pm or 6:30 - 8pm: “Experience the Magic” Launch Party at The Real Magic House, 904 6th Street. Sponsored by Angel’s Pet World. Come enjoy this magical kick off to the Hudson Hot Air Affair featuring local artists, a scavenger hunt, live music and fun surprises around every corner! This is a free event for all ages. There are two sessions available and reservations are required. Tickets and details at TheRealMagicHouse.com/Events.

Eat Shop Play:

Starts Saturday, January 20th at 10am and runs through February 20th: at Hudson and area businesses thru Feb. 20th. The unique shops, fun destinations and outstanding restaurants of Hudson and the surrounding area invite you to check out their winter offerings. Look for special promotions and events ideal for your winter outings in the Hudson area.

January 21, 2023:

9-11am: Breakfast Crafts For Kids at Dick's Bar & Grill, 111 Walnut Street. Come have breakfast and see a hot air balloon basket—plus a free art event for the kids.

4 - 9pm: Candlelight Hike and Ski at YMCA Camp St. Croix 532 County Road F, sponsored by PCK Foundation. Candle-lit trails for cross-country skiing and hiking. Trails not groomed. No pets, only service animals please. Come see a hot air balloon. Free Event.

January 24 and 25, 2023:

6:30pm: Haa Canvas Party Painting Class with Audrey Martin, featuring a magic themed picture titled  “Magic in the Sky” at 11″ x 14″ size, at The Real Magic House, 904 6th Street. The fee is $55 per person for class and supplies. Must pre-register!

January 28, 2023:

5:30-10:30pm: “Experience the Magic” Taste of Hot Air Affair at White Eagle Golf Club, 316 White Eagle Trail. Sponsored by the Hudson Lions Club. Enjoy spirits, wine, beer tastings, along with hot appetizers, cheese and sweets. Live music by Boondoggle, silent auction, wine pull and more. Photo booth by Photog Entertainment with “Experience the Magic” backdrops included in ticket price. VIP tickets: $50 (with exclusive VIP specials from 5:30-6:30pm). Regular tickets: $30 from 6:30-10:30pm (Early bird presale $25). Tickets are available online at the Lions Club’s Square Site or may be purchased at WESTconsin Credit Union, 1601 Maxwell Dr, Hudson. View a flyer with more details.

February 3, 2023:

Ballooning Education Program. Sponsored by Spring Creek Dental, The UPS Store-Hudson and Viking Electronics.  Learn how the beautiful hot air balloons fly in the Hot Air Affair printable educational booklet.  View the downloadable educational booklet here.

Hot Air Affair Geocaching Outdoor Fun throughout the Hudson area. Go to www.geocaching.com for coordinates of winter friendly geocaches in Hudson and the St. Croix Valley. NEW geocaches hidden in the immediate Hudson area.
Bird Watching - Look for trumpeter swans and eagles on the St. Croix River. Skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling nearby.

10 am: Eat Shop Play The unique shops, fun destinations and outstanding restaurants of Hudson and the surrounding area invite you to check out their winter offerings. Look for special promotions and events ideal for your winter outings in the Hudson area.

7pm: Torchlight “Experience The Magic” Parade. Featuring prizes for the best overall parade unit, the best unit by hot air balloonist, the best “Experience the Magic” themed unit and the best kazoo marching band. Hot air balloon pilots and crews displaying blasts of fire. Parade participants line up at 6pm at Wells Fargo Bank parking lot and parade travels down Second Street. Please call 715-828-7200, 715-386-8332 or 715-575-1864 by noon on February 3rd to register.

No Parking SignTorchlight Parade Parking Notice: Before you attend the Friday night Torchlight Parade please note that there will be NO PARKING in four spaces in front of the Opera House building, NO PARKING in the city lots next to and behind Wells Fargo, and NO PARKING on 3rd Street, from Vine Street to Locust Street. Please arrive early and dress warm!

Fireworks Display, immediately after parade over Lakefront Park and the St. Croix River.  Sponsored by Andersen Corporation.  Grand finale to downtown festivities.

February 4, 2023:

February 4 & 5 “The Magic Of Baking” at Grand Fête, 512 2nd Street. Participate in demonstrations and classes that will teach and inspire–Bundt cakes, cookies, breads and more. Classes offered for both adults and children. Complete details available at www.GrandFeteShop.com.

7am-noon: Pancake Breakfast at the Masonic Lodge, at 209 Locust Street. Sponsored by Masonic Lodge #56. Includes pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, fruit, beverages. $10 adults, $5 children under 12. Takeout available!

7:15am-8pm: Food Drive for the Hudson Food Cupboard at E.P. Rock school grounds, 340 13th Street S. Sponsored by Integrity Cleaners. Pop in to donate non-perishable items or cash donations for the Hudson Food Cupboard.

7:35am: Balloon Launch, E.P. Rock school grounds, 340 13th Street South. 30+ hot air balloons in mass ascension flight. Event highlight! Inflations and flights are weather dependent.    Concessions and souvenirs available.

No Parking SignEP Rock School Parking Notice: Please be prepared for a change of parking around EP Rock School on 13th Street, Frear Street, Hoyt Street, Summer Street, and Nye Street. This year there will only be PARKING On One Side Of The Street Around The Ep Rock School Grounds. The City of Hudson has made this change to allow for emergency vehicles and safer walking to and from the event. There will be parking signs posted. Please be courteous, DO NOT block driveways and follow all signage to make this a great event for everyone.

8am-8pm: Marketplace and Craft Fair at E.P. Rock school. Craft and souvenir selection with special winter apparel, ballooning and Hot Air Affair emphasis. Visit the Hot Air Affair booth for souvenirs, Hot Air Affair apparel and collectibles. Hot food and drinks available in cafeteria by local non-profit groups.

8am: Warm Up Station, sponsored by YMCA in Hudson. Visit the E.P. Rock school cafeteria throughout the day for a warm-up break, refreshments available to purchase. Meet local geocachers and learn about geocaching. Visit the photo booth to have your commemorative “Experience the Magic” photo taken by Photog Entertainment ($5).

9am: Geocaching For Family Fun.  Come meet local geocachers and learn about the fun, family adventure of geocaching. Equipment will be shown and you’ll learn how to get coordinates and search for hidden treasures. Bring your questions. E.P. Rock School cafeteria.

10:00 am: Eat Shop Play The unique shops, fun destinations and outstanding restaurants of Hudson and the surrounding area invite you to check out their winter offerings. Look for special promotions and events ideal for your winter outings in the Hudson area.

11am-3pm: Bean Bag Tournament at Hop & Barrel Brewing Company, 310 2nd Street, sponsored Sponsored by Valley Companies and coordinated by the Hudson Lions Club (check in time 10am). Details and preregistration on SignUpGenius.

11am-4:30pm: Octagon House Museum Open House at 1004 3rd Street. Sponsored by Guinn, Vinopal & Zahradka, LLP. Come in out of the cold and join us to learn about Hudson history and the Moffat-Hughes family. Tours are $15/Adult, $12/Senior, Military, AAA, $8 K-12 Student or $40 for families of 4 or more. Stop by the Shoppe in the Carriage House to find unique gift items. Visit us on Facebook or www.HudsonOctagonHouse.org to learn more. (There is no restroom available.)

12-2pm: St. Croix River Dunk at the Lakefront Park Beach.  Sponsored by the Hudson Rotary Club to raise funds for St. Croix Valley non-profits and clubs. For details and to registraise funds for St. Croix Valley non-profits and clubs. For details and to register your team, visit StCroixRiverDunk.com.

Noon-2:30pm:  Minnesota Kite Society at E.P. Rock school grounds, sponsored by Xcel Energy.  Society members provide a kite ground display, stunt kite demos, fighter kites. Kites for kids of all ages available for sale.

Smoosh Board1pm:  Smoosh Board Competition at E.P. Rock school ground Join in Hot Air Affair’s wackiest winter sport with 4 people strapped onto two Smooshboards. Prizes for each member of the competition winning team, and also individual prizes for the best “Experience the Magic” team costumes. Smoosh boards can be available, but you are highly encouraged to make your own Smooshboards (Skis) for the competition. Coordinated by John Knutson and the Women from Milwaukee. For registration, or questions, call or text John Knutson at 651-210-7858. The registration fee is only $10 per team.

1pm:  Ice Carving at E.P. Rock school grounds. Sponsored by Smiles in Motion – Pediatric Dentistry.  See an award-winning ice carver turn a big block of ice into a magical masterpiece.

2pm: Magic Prize Drop Fundraiser for the Hudson Area Public Library at E.P. Rock school grounds, sponsored by 8CH PRINT with partner Xcel Energy. $5 tickets available at the Library (prior to HHAA) or on the launch field and school cafeteria on Saturday, February 4, during Hot Air Affair. The winners receive a $100 cash prize, $50 for 2nd and $25 third place prize.

2-5pm: Benefit Bingo Fundraiser For Hudson Boosters at The Village Inn Sports Bar and Grill, 723 6th St N, North Hudson. Sponsored by Woodland Hill. Popular afternoon bingo plus raise money for youth sports programs in Hudson (Fee)

Balloon Launch3pm: Balloon Launch at E.P. Rock school grounds, 340 13th Street South. This is an optional flight. This means that if the balloons are able to fly at the morning launch, pilots can participate at the 3:00 flight at their discretion. However, if the balloons are not able to fly in the morning (and if weather permits) there will be a mass ascension flight at 3:00 pm. Event highlight!  All inflations and flights are weather dependent.

No Parking SignEP Rock School Parking Notice: Please be prepared for a change of parking around EP Rock School on 13th Street, Frear Street, Hoyt Street, Summer Street, and Nye Street. This year there will only be Parking On One Side Of The Street Around The Ep Rock School Grounds. The City of Hudson has made this change to allow for emergency vehicles and safer walking to and from the event. There will be parking signs posted. Please be courteous, DO NOT block driveways and follow all signage to make this a great event for everyone.

6:30pm:  Hot Air Balloon Moon Glow Or Field Of Fire at E.P. Rock school.  Hot air balloons light up the dark so bring your camera for this spectacular event!  In case of windy weather, Moon Glow becomes a Field of Fire.

Moon Glow shuttle: Parking is available at Hudson United Methodist Church, 1401 Laurel Ave., on February 4 from 5-8:30pm with shuttle service to the Moon Glow. Accepting free will donations for shuttle service/parking. You are invited to stop inside the church for hot chocolate and a treat from 5-8:30pm.

No Parking SignEP Rock School Parking Notice: Please be prepared for a change of parking around EP Rock School on 13th Street, Frear Street, Hoyt Street, Summer Street, and Nye Street. This year there will only be Parking On One Side Of The Street  Around The Ep Rock School Grounds. The City of Hudson has made this change to allow for emergency vehicles and safer walking to and from the event. There will be parking signs posted. Please be courteous, DO NOT block driveways and follow all signage to make this a great event for everyone.

7:30-10:30pm: “Pure Imagination” Moonlight Cabaret at The Real Magic House, 904 6th Street. Get ready to be transported into a dazzling atmosphere of vintage cabaret magic with vaudeville inspired jazz bands, local artists with pop up shops and other fantastical performances! This is the after party for the Hudson Hot Air Affair Moon Glow/Field of Fire, so come warm up with us and enjoy some bites and drinks inside of a magical historic home.

Early Bird Admission: We’re offering a limited quantity of early discounted tickets below. Once sold out, ticket prices increase to $50. Your contribution includes bites & refreshments and supports local artists in doing what they do best!

February 5, 2023:

7:35am: Balloon Launch at E.P. Rock school grounds. 30+ hot air balloons in mass ascension flight. Event highlight! Inflations and flights are weather dependent.

No Parking SignEP Rock School Parking Notice: Please be prepared for a change of parking around EP Rock School on 13th Street, Frear Street, Hoyt Street, Summer Street, and Nye Street. This year there will only be Parking On One Side Of The Street Around The Ep Rock School Grounds. The City of Hudson has made this change to allow for emergency vehicles and safer walking to and from the event. There will be parking signs posted. Please be courteous, DO NOT block driveways and follow all signage to make this a great event for everyone.

9am-Noon: Experience The Magic Breakfast at Big Guys BBQ Roadhouse, 1237 Hwy 35 North. Be entertained tableside by a magician while enjoying breakfast—including Bloody Mary and mimosa specials for the adults and a special $5 Kids’ Balloon Breakfast menu.

10:00 am:Eat Shop Play The unique shops, fun destinations and outstanding restaurants of Hudson and the surrounding area invite you to check out their winter offerings. Look for special promotions and events ideal for your winter outings in the Hudson area.

Fat Bike RaceNoon: High Noon Hot Balloon Fat Bike Race, at Lakefront Park on the beautiful St. Croix River, downtown Hudson, sponsored by Velo Du Nord Coffee & Wellness. Online preregistration and event details at bikereg.com.

1-3pm: Free Kids’ Ice Fishing Contest sponsored by Nutty Squirrel Sports Saloon/Cheap Andy’s Saloon and Carbone’s Pizzeria/Willow River Saloon in cooperation with the St. Croix County Parks, the St. Croix County Alliance of Sportsman’s Clubs and Fleet Farm. Ice fishing on Perch Lake, 501 Perch Lake Road, near the boat landing by Homestead Park. Equipment and mentors on site. Giveaways for all the participants.

Shuttle service available from Burkhardt (details coming in January).

Dates: February 3 - 5, 2023

Location:

E.P. Rock School Grounds,
340 13th Street South,
Hudson, WI 54016.

Click here for more information.