Toronto is in for a spectacular surprise in celebration of the Immersive Van Gogh experience reopening this week. A nearly 100-foot-tall hot air balloon of the painter himself will be on display three evenings this week on the city’s waterfront.

The larger-than-life balloon is a reproduction of Self Portrait with a Grey Felt Hat, Van Gogh’s painting in 1887. It has flown in the skies of hot air balloon festivals around the world and will be transported from Europe all the way here.

This is something you won’t want to miss and, don’t worry, you’ll get several opportunities to see it. The balloon will float above the water from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on July 28, July 31, and August 1. While you’ll definitely be able to catch glimpses of it from all over the city, the best place to see it will be across from 1 Yonge St. on Queen’s Quay.

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van gogh hot air balloon toronto
Photo via REDEYEMEDIA

Immersive Van Gogh producer, Corey Ross, said in a press release that Toronto deserves something special after enduring the longest lockdown in North America, and wanted “to do something special and fun” for the city to mark the reopening of this famed immersive exhibit.

The interactive art show is based in the five-story space at 1 Yonge St., across the street from where the massive Van Gogh balloon will make its debut this week.

Now, get ready to stop everything and Gogh — this is not a drill!

Van Gogh Hot Air Balloon

When: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., July 29, July 30, August 1
Where: Queen’s Quay and Yonge Street, Toronto