Kites and Balloons: Festivals in the skies of Emilia-Romagna

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Kites of all colours and shapes pirouetting through the skies of Emilia-Romagna, and hot-air balloons soaring through the air, taking us to another dimension.

If you are looking for unusual experiences to spend a pleasant day outdoors with children, family or friends, here are some colorful ideas from Romagna and Emilia.

International Kite Festival | Pinarella di Cervia

Beyond the pine forest, before the sea water, there’s a fantastic place where you can fly.

From Thursday 23 April to Sunday 3 May 2026 on the beach of Pinarella di Cervia Artevento – International Kite Festival returns, the first event expressly dedicated to kites as an art form, but also as an educational tool to preserve ancient practices and knowledge.

Present since 1981 and now in its 46th edition, the event boasts the record of the longest-running International Kite Festival in the world and is a promoter of sustainable lifestyles that respect man and nature.

Being on the beach while the colorful kites are in flight, led by the best performers from 50 countries around the world, provides an immersive experience: a show celebrating freedom, inclusion, and brotherhood among people through the most original contamination of visual and performing arts.

The program includes acrobatic performances, wind displays, night shows, educational workshops and construction courses.

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Where to fly in a hot-air balloon in Emilia-Romagna

Between Reggio Emilia and its province, there are two places where it’s possible to board a hot-air balloon, to fly through the sky and admire the Emilia-Romagna landscape from a truly unusual viewpoint.

In Carpineti, in the heart of the Lands of Matilda of Canossa, it’s possible to fly in a hot-air balloon over the Apennines at dawn, while the landscape is gently illuminated by the first light of day. INFO

For the less morning persons, it is possible to fly in the afternoon, departing from Reggio Emilia Airport. INFO

In both cases, the flight lasts about an hour and allows you to experience the unique sensation of being carried away by the wind, immersed in silence, taking photographs with unprecedented shots, and discovering the area from a privileged perspective.

The experience is also suitable for children, from 8 years on.

Even Rimini offers you the chance to experience the thrill of flying on an hot-air balloon, hovering over the fascinating landscape of the Marecchia Valley. INFO

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