Autumn is a time to enjoy spectacular fall foliage, but the turning leaves won’t be the only brilliant colors adorning the skies in upcoming weekends as hot-air balloon festivals lift spirits across the horizons.
Want to know where you can see balloons in your area?
Here’s a round-up of great balloon festivals around the country, so you can find one near you:
This weekend hundreds of bright balloons will decorate the fall air in St. Louis, Missouri and Plano, Texas. Meanwhile, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the largest hot air balloon festival in the world, will launch the first weekend in October.
“Balloon glows” usually provide the most majestic moments of any balloon festival. Just after nightfall, crowds flock to grassy fields with blankets and coolers to gaze as hundreds of burners simultaneously ignite, illuminating their balloons from within like giant ornaments in the night sky.
The first balloon glow occurred in Albuquerque, when pilots inflated their balloons on Christmas Eve as a “thank you” to local residents. The event has since become a staple of balloon festivals everywhere.
The balloons typically stand static during glows, but you can look on as hundreds of balloons launch into the sky during “mass ascensions.”
Get more ballooning ideas with Unusual Fall Foliage Tours & Adventures.
The Great Forest Park Balloon Race, a free event in St. Louis, is unique because the balloons actually launch from a park in the middle of the city. Crowds of around 130,000 gather to watch as 70 “hound” balloons chase the Energizer Bunny “Hot Hare Balloon.” The balloon dropping a baggie of birdseed closest to the Energizer Bunny Balloon is declared the winner.
Balloon festivals also provide artistic opportunities for painters and photographers. The Great Forest Park Balloon Race features an annual photo contest, while the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is considered one of the most photographed events in the world.
At many festivals, you can even get in on the flying action. At the Cedar City Sky Fest in Utah, also taking place this weekend, visitors can participate in balloon demos, become the pilot of a radio-controlled airplane, or bring kites for an afternoon of flying.
If balloons alone don’t do it for you, there are usually plenty of other activities going on. At next weekend’s Valleyfest in Spokane, Washington, the balloon launch is followed by a 5K run for hunger, a pancake breakfast, live music, and a classic car show.
Many balloon festivals have a major impact on their local communities. This year’s Plano Balloon Festival 2009 will showcase 42 non-profit organizations. Meanwhile, in May of 2000, The Great Forest Park Balloon race was inducted into the permanent collection of the Library of Congress.
Many balloon festivals occur in late September or early October, but events are scheduled year-round. To find out when a balloon festival is happening in your area, visit www.hotairballoon.com.
By Dan Bence for PeterGreenberg.com.
Hot Air Balloon Festival links: Adirondack Balloon Fest, Valley Fest (Spokane, Washington), Pellissippi State (Knoxville, Tennessee), Clovis Fest (Clovis, California), Cedar City (Utah) Sky Fest, Bluegrass Balloon Festival (Louisville, Kentucky), Balloonapalooza IV (North Las Vegas, Nevada), Balloon Fiesta (Albuquerque, New Mexico), The Great Forest Park Balloon Race (St. Louis, MO)
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