Last updated on August 26th, 2025
The annual Great Reno Balloon Race is nearly upon us again. The skies above Rancho San Rafael Regional Park in Reno will be filled on September 5-7, 2025 with over 100 hot air balloons, and the UNR Balloon Race Scholarship Committee is raffling off a ride in a balloon during Dawn Patrol, dining gift certificates, merchandise, excursions, and more!
2025 Commemorative Balloon Race Pins are also available for purchase for $5, and likewise support student scholarships. Funds raised provide scholarships for low-income undergraduate and graduate students.
Pins are being sold online through Friday, September 5th, and in person during the Great Reno Balloon Race, Sept. 5-7. Raffle tickets are being sold through Tuesday, September 2nd, with the raffle being held on Wednesday, Sept 3. Raffle prizes will be drawn in front of the Joe Crowley Student Union on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. (Need not be present to win.)
Get your pins and/or raffle tickets ($1/ticket, or $5/six tickets) now to support our scholars, and you could win! Find pin and raffle ticket sellers at unr.edu/balloonrace/ways-to-support/pin.
Header photo courtesy of Michael Villanueva.
UNR has been a sponsor of the Great Reno Balloon Race since 1985. UNR has been selling drawing tickets and UNR balloon pins since 1986 and funds raised have supported many, many students with our scholarships. We are still flying high!