Every year on the first full weekend of September, the skies over Dieppe fill with hot-air balloons for the Atlantic Balloon Fiesta, one of the largest balloon festivals in eastern Canada. Dozens of balloons representing operators from across Canada and the United States launch at dawn and dusk from a large open field on the edge of town, when the cooler temperatures and calmer winds give pilots the best flying conditions.
The festival runs for several days and includes tethered rides for visitors who want to go up without drifting away, night glow events where the balloons are inflated after dark and lit from inside against the black sky, and live music and food vendors on the ground. It is primarily a family event and draws large crowds from across the Maritimes. The dawn launches in particular are worth setting an early alarm for.