Led by Derrick Story
5 Nights and 4 days
Workshop Tuition: $1,195
Estimated Room Cost: $900
Deposit to Hold Reservation: $200
Limited to 5 Participants

The Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic is a two-day event that allows us to photograph every aspect of the festival from preparation, to morning glow, to lift off, to individual rides. It's a colorful feast for the eyes. And if you want, you take a ride in a balloon for a bird’s eye view.

(July dates for the 2026 festival have not been announced yet, but will be listed here as soon as they are available.)

Additionally, Sonoma County has a thriving microbrewing culture. We'll go behind the scenes to meet the brewmasters and learn about the art of brewing, and of course, taste the results for ourselves.

You may already know about Russian River Brewing and Lagunitas, but there are dozens more. To learn about the Sonoma County brew culture, visit this page.

Tuition

The workshop tuition is $1,195, which includes admission to the balloon festival, microbrewery tours, transportation during workshop, personalized instruction, on-location guidance, classroom sessions, breakfasts and lunches, final presentations, and access to derrickstoryonline where we will begin preparing for our adventure in June and use throughout and after the physical event has concluded.

How to Reserve Your Spot

A deposit of $200 reserves your space. Per the workshop cancelation policy, deposits are non-refundable. You will be invoiced for the remaining balance prior to the workshop.

What Happens After the Paid Deposit?

We’ll follow up with you confirming your payment and will begin the planning process.

Cancelation Policy

The workshop deposit is non-refundable. Cancellation up to 60 days before the event will provide you with a $550 refund for fully-paid tuitions. There is no refund for cancellations within 59 days of the event.