Family-owned hot air balloon adventures across Maine and New England. Champagne flights, festival tethers, and unforgettable memories since 1978.
From champagne celebrations to festival favorites, we bring the magic of ballooning to you.
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Shared-basket flights are $325 per person, with private flights for two also available — each ending with a champagne celebration after landing. AM and PM flights offered weekly in Maine, May through October.
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$325 / Person
A bucket-list experience to remember — the other passengers are just friends you haven't met yet. Float above the New England countryside at sunrise or sunset. Tickets are $325 per person.
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Events & Festivals
The balloon stays tied to the ground, rising just high enough to thrill. Perfect for festivals, community events, parties, and corporate gatherings — all the wonder without the flight.
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Kid-Friendly
A real fabric balloon modified to stay inflated so kids can play inside its colorful envelope. A huge hit at school events, teen dance parties, and community celebrations.
Book for Your EventAlso available: Aerial Advertising for local and national businesses — get your brand in the sky.
50+ years in aviation, 3,000+ hours aloft, and a genuine love for sharing the sky.
Derald's aviation journey began in the 1960s at the University of Maine, where he earned his private fixed-wing pilot's license in 1970. The moment he saw his first hot air balloon a year later, he was hooked for life.
After serving as a naval flight officer in the U.S. Navy, Derald returned to Maine, earned his balloon pilot certification, and founded Damn Yankee Balloons — offering passenger flights and student instruction from day one.
In 1985, he became the first pilot ever to cross the Northumberland Strait by hot air balloon — a 13-mile journey over open ocean between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, landing on the cliffs of PEI. That pioneering spirit still defines every flight he makes.
Today, with over 3,000 flight hours across 10 U.S. states and 6 Canadian provinces, Derald and his wife Joy — whom he met while ballooning in Vermont — continue to share the magic of flight from their home base in Dixfield, Maine. The company also provides aerial advertising and flies 8- and 4-passenger balloons throughout the eastern U.S. and Canada.
"What an incredible experience! Our sunset flight was absolutely magical. The views were breathtaking and the champagne toast at the end was the perfect touch. Already planning our next flight!"
"The crew was so professional and kind when they landed in our yard! They brought out champagne and let our kids explore the basket. It turned an ordinary afternoon into a memory our family will never forget."
"As a balloon festival chairman, I've worked with Damn Yankee Balloons for multiple years. They're the most professional, reliable, and trustworthy crew in the business. Our festival wouldn't be the same without them."
Sunrise champagne flights, festival tethers, and one-of-a-kind events — let's get you in the sky.
Have questions about a flight, event, or aerial advertising? We'd love to hear from you.
Weekly flights in Maine, roughly May through October. Other areas and events across the eastern U.S. and Canada available by arrangement.
