A new documentary on the Rise Up Hot Air Balloon Festival will screen in the Monarch Theatre in April prior to its return to Medicine Hat, May 21-24.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
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A new documentary that captures the experience of the annual Rise Up Hot Air Balloon Festival will screen at the Monarch Theatre in April.
“Rise Up: The Film” is promoted as exploring the themes of community, connection and hope while covering a festival that has grown into a large-scale hot air balloon event attracting pilots from across North America to Medicine Hat.
There are three screenings planned from April 17-19, including two evening shows on the Friday and Saturday and a matinee on Sunday.
Tickets are priced at $17.75 and can be purchased at tixx.ca. All sales from tickets will go directly toward supporting Our Collective Journey, a local non-profit which hosts the annual balloon festival and provides resilience and recovery coaching.
Later this year the balloons will return to the Hat for the fifth annual festival set to take place May 21-24.
Since the festival started during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has grown into a community-wide event. This year will include the popular Community Day with a free pancake breakfast, as well as art displays, markets and vendors.
Rise Up also features evening Glow Up events held in Kin Coulee Park, pending weather conditions.
Organizers say they are looking for volunteers for this year’s event and will open registration in March. Thrill seekers will also be able to book hot air balloon rides later this spring.
