The very first time I saw a hot air balloon it flew across the highway and over my car. It was gigantic and full of beautiful colors. Seeing it put a huge smile on my face. Soon after that I researched hot air balloon festivals and went to my first one. If one balloon brings a smile imagine what seeing dozens or even hundreds of balloons flying in the air can do. For me, it was the beginning of a new hobby.
What Happens at a Hot Air Balloon Festival?
Balloon Lift-Off
There are hot air balloon festivals all over the world and each one is a little different. Some are big with many balloons, and some are smaller with just a few balloons. Either way, watching balloons flying through the air is a beautiful sight. Hot air balloons can fly two times per day depending upon the location and the winds. Typically, the balloons fly right after sunrise and an hour or so before sunset. To fly, the pilots want gentle breezes. Assuming that the weather is cooperating you will want to be there at sunrise to see the balloons inflate and lift-off. Depending on the location the balloons will typically fly for about an hour. In Albuquerque, the balloons tend to fly longer due to the uniqueness of the location and how the ground heats.
Mid-Day Festivities
After the balloons take off in the morning, some festivals will have food and other vendors for you to peruse. Some festivals will pair with an arts and crafts or car show. There may be games and bounce houses for the kids. Some festivals will have entertainment scheduled. You’ll need to check the website for the individual festival to know what is happening after the balloons lift-off.
Evening Flight or Balloon Glow
In the evening, usually a couple hours before sunset, the balloonists will come back to the festival grounds with plans of flying if the location and winds permit, or with plans of doing a balloon glow. At a balloon glow the balloons are inflated but tethered to the ground. Typically, the announcer for the show will do a count down and all the pilots will switch their burners on at the same time, so the balloons light up. It is quite a sight to see.
Taking a Hot Air Balloon Ride at a Balloon Festival
It is not always easy to take a balloon ride at a hot air balloon festival. Hot air balloon pilots travel (sometimes a very long distance) to be at a hot air balloon festival. The festival organizers sell sponsorships for each balloon to cover their costs. In exchange for the sponsorship, the balloon pilots will take the sponsors for rides during the festival which precludes anyone else from getting rides. But there are exceptions to every rule.
At some festivals commercial hot air balloon pilots sell hot air balloon rides, but the spots can fill up quickly. If you want to take a ride in a balloon, you should call the organizer ahead of time or check the website to see if rides are being sold. That may be the only way to guarantee a ride if you want one. All that being said, it may be less expensive to plan a ride with a local hot air balloon pilot on a non-festival day.
Tethered Hot Air Balloon Rides
To get the sensation of flying, occasionally a hot air balloon pilot will stay at the field and do tethered hot air balloon rides. A tethered ride will lift you off the ground and then bring you back down. The hot air balloon is securely tied to a stationery object like the balloon pilot’s vehicle. On a tethered ride you will get the feel of flying in a hot air balloon, but you don’t leave the field in free-flight.
How to Participate in a Hot Air Balloon Festival
Hot air balloon festival organizers require many volunteers to put on a festival. If you call the organizer, they will be able to tell you exactly what they need. One volunteer position that will get you working with a pilot and hot air balloon is that of “chase crew.” Because pilots sometimes come from out of state, they are not always able to bring their dedicated chase crew members with them.
The chase crew helps the pilot stand the balloon up and then follows the hot air balloon from lift-off to landing. You see, hot air balloon pilots don’t know exactly where they will land when they take off. They may have an idea based on the wind direction but if the wind direction changes, they could land anywhere from a cul-de-sac to a pasture. No matter where the pilot lands the balloon, the chase crew will be there to help pack up the balloon and then carry it and the balloon basket to the balloon trailer. This is how my hobby in ballooning started.
A Great Way to See Different Places
As my hobby in hot air ballooning grew, I found myself experiencing hot air balloon festivals all over North America. Some of my favorite festivals allowed me to see things I might not ever have seen, like a cow jumping over the moon.
Festival de montgolfières de Gatineau
Perhaps one of my most favorite balloon festivals is in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. This festival is held at the beginning of September over what is the US Labor Day weekend. Gatineau is filled with many things to see, do and experience. But the festival itself has plenty to keep you busy. In addition to the hot air balloons in the morning and evening, they have a carnival, live music performances, a car show, inflatable games and face painting for the kids, to name just a few. Along with regular shaped hot air balloons, they also have a number of special shape balloons. I believe it was at this festival that I saw the cow jump over the moon balloon for the first time. It was sitting in a pasture and it just made me laugh. I think that is my favorite balloon ever.
One day during the festival I was able to fly (that is often how chase crew gets paid – free flights.) On this flight we flew over the St. Lawrence River. We did a splash and dash in the river and my pants were wet up to my knees. A nearby boat owner offered to let us land on his boat. He didn’t realize we touched down in the river on purpose. Flying over the river was so much fun. From the balloon we could also see Canada’s Parliament buildings. If you like architecture, they are just beautiful.
If you check their website there are photos of the special shapes and other balloons that are participating. You can also learn about all of the live entertainment and other events. And, they are selling rides on the website.
Labor Day Lift-Off, Colorado Springs, CO
Another festival that I enjoy is the Labor Day Lift-Off in Colorado Springs. It is, of course, held over Labor Day weekend. This event usually has 70 or more balloons and some special shape balloons too. The festival is held in Memorial Park . It has a lake (perfect for splash and dash pictures) and the Rocky Mountains and Pikes Peak in the backdrop. The balloons fly in the morning (weather permitting) and do a balloon glow in the evening. Spectators are able to walk amongst the balloons on the field and talk to the pilots and chase crew members.
Other interesting things throughout the day include skydivers, acrobats, live music, and a 5k race. There are also plenty of games and things for the kids to do. The event is free to attend. Although, some things have a fee, like the 5k race and hot air balloon rides. Check out their website for more information.
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Of course, no hot air balloon festival list would be complete without including Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. This festival is unlike any of the others for a few reasons.
- Balloon Fiesta is 8 days of events and has 500 or more balloons from all over the world. You will see more special shape balloons at this event than any other.
- At this event, balloons actually fly in the darkness of the pre-dawn hours (weather permitting). They call this event “Dawn Patrol.” Balloons are licensed aircraft and with proper aircraft lights on them they can fly in the dark.
- Albuquerque has box effect winds. Box effect winds allow a pilot to take off, fly, and then land in the field he took off from. In many other places the winds aloft are going in one or two directions. So it is rare that you would ever land where you took off from. In Albuquerque, the winds are going in different directions at different altitudes. So it is possible for the pilot to actually steer the balloon. When they want to change direction, they change altitude.
- Because of the box effect winds, this festival has competitions like the key grab and bean bag toss for pilots. The key grab is an event where they take off, fly and then come back over the field. Located in the field is a pole with a key attached to the top. Their goal is to get the key from the pole. It’s harder than it seems but it is fun to watch them attempt it.
Everyday at Balloon Fiesta offers something new. There is plenty to do and to see. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend it. If you want something a little closer, here is a list of the hot air balloon festivals in the USA. Please check each website for specific details on that event.
