Yuma AZ Events Mid-November 2026: Balloons and More

Yuma AZ events in mid November 2026 stack up fast, and this is the weekend locals wait for. Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11, the Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival from Friday November 13 to Sunday November 15, and Pint Fest at the Territorial Prison on Saturday November 14 all land in the same few days. If you just moved here, or you are visiting family near MCAS Yuma, this is the week that shows you how Yuma does community.

What happens in Yuma on Veterans Day, November 11?

Yuma is a military town, and Veterans Day matters here. City Hall closes for the holiday and reopens Thursday November 12. In recent years American Legion Post 19 has hosted the Veterans Day parade starting at 9 in the morning along 4th Avenue, with an 11th hour ceremony at 11. Organizers had not posted full 2026 parade details in the sources I checked this week, so confirm the route and start time with Post 19 before you head out. Marines from MCAS Yuma have marched in this parade for years, alongside Yuma Proving Ground, local schools, and veteran groups, and families line 4th Avenue early with chairs and coffee.

When is the Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival 2026?

The Balloon Festival runs Friday November 13 to Sunday November 15 at the Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex, 1700 East 8th Street. Mornings start early with mass launches around 6 in the morning, so set the alarm and bring a jacket, November mornings on the field are cold until the sun clears the mountains. Saturday is the full day, with food, vendors, and family activities, and Saturday night brings the Balloon Glow and fireworks, when tethered balloons light up in the dark. Daily admission was listed at $5 per day at the gate in festival coverage, with a weekend pass at $10 presale or $12 at the gate. Check the Caballeros de Yuma festival page before you go, because wind can shift a launch.

What else is on Saturday, November 14 in Yuma?

On Saturday afternoon, Fort Yuma Rotary Pint Fest runs from 4 to 8 in the evening at Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, 220 Prison Hill Road. It is a craft beer festival with live music inside one of the most historic spots in Arizona, and it raises money for Rotary community work. Tickets were listed from $20 to $125 on the event page, and past years have been 21 and over, so bring ID and check before you bring the kids. The same Saturday, the community bazaar season is starting up around town, and the Yuma Palms farmers market keeps its Saturday morning rhythm for winter visitors stocking up on local produce and dates.

Why does this week matter if you are thinking about living in Yuma?

Because this is the real Yuma, not the summer postcard. Cool mornings, balloons over the fields, neighbors honoring veterans on 4th Avenue, and dinner downtown after the glow. Military families PCSing to MCAS Yuma and winter visitors deciding whether to buy both make up their minds on weeks like this. If you are weighing neighborhoods while you are here for the festival, book a free consultation with me, Johanna Suggs with eXp Realty and the Rise Up Team. I will show you how the Foothills, east Yuma, and west Yuma each live during a busy festival week, so you can choose with your eyes open.