Following last year's big success, the Yotvata Hot Air Balloon Festival returned to Timna Park again, this year featuring balloons from Spain, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Italy, Belgium, and Israel.  Balloons left from the north of Israel and crossed above its skies to end up at Yotvata in the south.  The Yotvata festival was held on 16-17 October, 2008. 

The world's leading hot air balloon pilots and air crew, with thousands of air hours all over the world behind them, once again launched colourful balloons to drift over the awesome landscape of Timna Park during the festival.   On both days of the festival, the balloons were launched at daybreak at Timna Park.  It is customary the world over to take off in balloons at dawn in accordance with wind and weather conditions.  The temperature must be low and the ground cool, with calm winds and thermals developing during the later morning hours.  The balloons later landed in the Timna / Be'er Ora region.

Before and after the balloons' takeoff, the public got to enjoy the desert experience.  The visitors could continue touring around the Timna Park and enjoying its natural wonders such as Solomon's Pillars, the Mushroom, the Arches, and the' copper lake'.  There were additional activities especially for the festival such as breakfast, handicraft workshops, activities for children and the whole family, good music, and more.

The Golden Tulip Hotel of the Fattal chain was chosen as the festival hotel, hosting pilots and aircrew from all over the world, along with production crews, press, and festival guests.  The hotel also held special activities, including a cocktail party, meeting the pilots, lectures and travel stories, children's activities, films, and everything to do with hot air balloons.  The International Hot Air Balloon Festival was put on by the Golden Tulip Hotel together with the Yotvata Dairies.