Answer: If possible, please setup on Thursday from 7AM – 6PM or Friday, from 7AM – 3PM. Anyone that is setting up Saturday morning, please be completely ready to vend by 6:59AM. Those teams arriving after 7 AM will have to pay a $20 parking fee and will have to carry their items from general parking area. This is not ideal, you want to avoid this. Tent sponsors, caterers and vendors please remember you must bring everything you need including ice, water, generators, garbage cans, bags, setup and prep areas etc. This is a huge field with no water and no electric. If you need to hookup to our generator there is a nominal $50 fee — please contact polo@victorycup.org for an invoice before the event. Also, after the event please leave your area as you found it. That means no damage, no trash and nothing left behind. If you do not clean up for yourself, we will be forced to clean up for you. The cleanup fee per space is $250.

Answer: Unlike many Hot Air Balloon Festivals, we do not shut down during the day. We keep the festival going during the afternoon when most other festivals shut the gates. Polo is part of our afternoon schedule and all ticket holders can attend. Hot Air Balloons are extremely weather contingent and only one portion of this fun festival. Come prepared to enjoy the entire festival! Come and enjoy a great day of food, drinks, polo, fashion, vendors and balloons!

Answer: Children under 3 are free and do not need a pass. All other children will need a Kid’s Pass available for sale on the Ticket Page of each website.

Answer: We are a pet friendly event but pets must be leashed at all times.

Answer: We are a kid friendly event and welcome families to our grounds. We have a kids area at each event including bounce houses. Feel free to bring a ball or games to play as a family in our large grass areas!

Answer: We have many food and alcohol vendors on site and therefore do not allow outside tailgating. Outside food and alcohol is not allowed.

Answer: Not at all. Many guests do pick out the ‘perfect’ outfit for this event, but just as many quests come casual. You should review the photo gallery online and it will give you a sense for how most of our guests dress.

Answer: Read each ticket description clearly. We have ticket levels for all budgets and the higher the price the more the ticket covers.

Answer: We are a private for profit event. That said, we do provide multiple opportunities for charities to get involved. If you would like to apply as a charity for participation please email us at polo@victorycup.org

Answer: Yes, and you are encouraged to do so! Each event is held on a large grass area. Coolers are not allowed, but blankets, chairs and lawn games are encouraged!

Answer: No. You must contact us and we will facilitate all bar services through our permit.

Answer: Want to get that experience and “feeling” of a balloon flight without leaving the venue, then a Hot Air Tethered ride is a great way to enjoy the experience. A Tethered Ride gives riders a taste of Ballooning while anchored down to the ground by high-tensile strength ropes only floating up to 30-40 feet in the air. Passengers climb aboard the aircraft for a short ride. Tether Rides are a great way for small children or elders to experience a balloon ride, also ideal for people with fears of flying or heights. All passengers must be in good health, if you are pregnant, recently released from the hospital, have current broken bones or casts, you will not be able to qualify to purchase a ride. These balloons are not certified by the FAA to carry wheelchairs. The pilot will also be available to determine who can fly! Tethered rides are available for sale in advance online. Like all other Balloon Rides, tethered rides are also weather permitting; are on a first come, first serve basis and at the individual pilot’s discretion.

Answer: Gather with thousands of spectators to experience these magical giants close-up as part of the the ever popular “Balloon Glow Show” each evening. A Balloon Night Glow is a gathering of hot air balloons that inflate at night. When the burners are ignited, the balloons come to life with brightly glowing colors and the roar of the burners. It’s a spectacular display of color and sound within the magical nighttime ambiance where families and children may walk up to the balloons to feel the heat from the burners it inflates the canopy and see first-hand the shapes and colors come to life. Watch as these colorful shapes float high above the crowd with music, lights and special effects that will be sure to bring smiles to all ages.

Answer: If possible, please setup on Thursday (10/11) from 7AM – 6PM or Friday, (10/12) from 7AM – 3PM. Anyone that is setting up Saturday morning, please be completely ready to vend by 6:59AM. No on site parking will be available for sale day of. None. If you do NOT reserve and pay for your parking online in advance you will not be allowed to park nor granted admission. There is zero tolerance for this, unless using our shuttle, taxi, Uber or other ride share. Do to safety you also will not be admitted on foot. Do not even consider walking. This event is on 290 and walking to the event or across 290 is illegal. This is not ideal, you want to avoid this. Tent sponsors, caterers and vendors please remember you must bring everything you need including ice, water, generators, garbage cans, bags, setup and prep areas etc. This is a huge field with no water and no electric. If you need to hookup to our generator there is a nominal $25 fee — please contact polo@victorycup.org for an invoice before the event. Also, after the event please leave your area as you found it. That means no damage, no trash and nothing left behind. If you do not clean up for yourself, we will be forced to clean up for you. The cleanup fee per space is $250.

Answer: We host up to 10 food vendors at each Victory Cup. Please contact us at Bobby@victorycup.org for pricing and further details.

Answer: Alcohol Tasting will occur in the invite Only Hospitality Tent from 4pm-9pm. Alcohol tastings must be true tasting sizes. Please contact Bob Ball with additional questions at (203)829-1407 or Bobby@victorycup.org.

Answer: Correct. They MUST purchase a parking pass and a tethered ride. Parking and all passes MUST be purchased in ADVANCE. No exceptions. For all who Rsvp’d online early and got the FREE tickets through Eventbrite, they had to purchase their Parking by Dec 1 to validate their passes. Many did not. Those who did not cannot attend this event, and their passes are now INVALID.

Answer: We will send all tickets to everyone electronically the week prior to the event. (2) Vendor Parking passes will be distributed at the Registration Tent during move in hours. Please contact Bianca Marais with any additional questions at Bianca@blackstobetexas.com.

Answer: https://victorycup.org/fredericksburg/tickets/

Answer: This is important. Your vendor wristbands give you and your staff full access so you can WORK the event. Each vendor will be given 4 Vendor Wristbands. Your wristbands do not entitle you or your staff to food, drinks, water etc. If our security staff see folks with vendor wristbands using those bands and access to PARTY as opposed to WORK, the bands will be cut and the worker escorted outside the fenced area. FYI: Some sponsors and vendors purchased higher level packages. Those packages come with GA and VIP wristbands. If you want a higher ticket level package, let us know and you can upgrade.

Answer: You have purchased Hot Air Balloon Tethered Ride(s)? Congratulations on this, we are looking forward to a special event.

Have you also pre paid for your parking and pre purchased a pass for admission?

Tethered Rides are an ‘Add On’ and in addition to your pass option. If you purchased a Tethered Ride, you still must purchase a parking pass (per vehicle) and an admission pass (per attendee) to the event. You must do so in advance and online.

For everyone’s pleasure and enjoyment, this event is capped at 5,000 guests and we do NOT allow day of ticket sales or parking. Space being limited we must cap our number of attendees.

Please do not show up on the day of the event looking to park or attend if you have not pre-purchased your required Parking Pass and Admission Pass online by Dec 1.

A tethered hot air balloon ride gives attendees a taste of ballooning while anchored down to the ground and never leaving the venue. Rides last approximately 5 minutes.

Passenger weight is limited to 275 lbs. per person. The balloon can carry 5-8 people at a time. Larger groups will be split onto multiple rides. Tethered rides (once purchased) are first come, first serve and will take place around sunrise and sunset, please check the schedule for updated times. Times are subject to change based on weather and safety conditions. Arrive early day of the event. All passengers (including kids) must purchase a tethered ride pass.

All Hot Air Balloon activations are extremely weather sensitive and may be postponed or canceled due to weather. Anyone with a pre-purchased Tethered Ride Pass who does not complete the Tethered Ride on Friday night will also be admitted for free on Saturday for a evening tethered ride. There are no Tethered Ride refunds.

Everyone with a Tethered Ride Pass who attends on Friday night should also attend on Saturday night, including Saturday afternoon for the final tethered ride activation or champagne dinner (depending upon weather).

Should we need to cancel your ride due to safety there will be no refunds. Instead you will receive a credit towards a balloon ride at one of our future festivals. Please check www.victorycup.org and www.thebestoftexas.org for a list of upcoming Festivals with Balloon Rides.

Answer: NO. Admission passes (claimed,free or paid) DO NOT include Hot Air Balloon Rides. All Rides are must be purchased separately. IMPORTANT: Balloon activations are weather contingent and are typically held in the late afternoon and into the evening. As such we inform our guests via online, in email and on social media to not come mid day expecting to see balloons.

Answer: No outside food or drink is allowed. I further understand that this is a private event, held on private property. I fully understand I am a guest of the organizers and the property owner and can be expelled at anytime, and am legally responsible for any damage. There are absolutely no refunds under any conditions.

Answer: Hot Air Balloons are extremely weather contingent and only one portion of this fun festival. Let’s pray for the best but come prepared for high winds or bad weather. Let us make one thing abundantly clear: if there is a safe way to execute the hot air balloon activations WE WILL DO SO. If those balloons are not in the air it is for your SAFETY. PLEASE understand that the organizers will do their best to activate hot air balloons and appreciate the pilots and crews are on site during specified times, but also understand the organizers cannot control Mother Nature nor should they tether or launch balloons in dangerous conditions.

Answer. A perfect day is rare, as is a complete wash out. That said, our hot air balloon activations can be grounded or limited due to winds etc and often are. Hot Air Balloons are EXTREMELY weather contingent and may be grounded for safety or weather, therefore we ask that you come prepared to enjoy the entire festival (including polo) with or without the balloons. If you’re only purpose for attending is the balloon activation alone you may be very disappointed if we get bad weather.

Answer: We spend $200k-$300k per event, including travel and lodging for our pilots. Let us make one thing abundantly clear: if there is a safe way to execute the hot air balloon activations WE WILL DO SO. If those balloons are not in the air it is for your SAFETY. PLEASE understand that the organizers will do their best to activate hot air balloons and appreciate the pilots and crews are on site during specified times, but also understand the organizers cannot control Mother Nature nor should they tether or launch balloons in dangerous conditions.

Answer: If Hot Air Balloon Tethered Rides cannot activate due to safety or weather, PLEASE understand that no refunds will be awarded (as explained online, on social media and via email). Instead of a refund, and as clearly advertised, all Tethered Ride Pass Holders will be automatically upgraded on Saturday to a casual private dinner field side (children are welcome). There are absolutely no refunds under any conditions. Our policy is abundantly clear in all communications. Furthermore, it is your responsibility to actually attend that dinner as scheduled.