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Balloons

One of the most romantic activities imaginable is floating silently over a fertile valley with nothing but the wind to alter your existence.  Such is the lot of the hot air balloonist.  These gentle giants come in all sizes and shapes.  The best way to see these guys in their habitat is to visit one of the many hot-air balloon festivals around the country.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

The most popular festival in the United States is that at  Albuquerque, New Mexico.  This festival, held every year in October, is so popular that in recent years,  entrants have been limited to 750.  Imagine the sky being filled with 750 colorful balloons.  The wide angle lens has not been invented, which will do justice to such a site.  

Reno, Nevada

Another festival with a large number of balloons is the annual affair in Reno, Nevada in early September.  This festival is attended by approximately a hundred participants and covers several days.  Early mornings will see all the balloons rising from the valley floor en masse and filling the sky with color.  Unfortunately, the air in the valley heats up quickly, so by around 9:00 am all the balloonists must return to the ground, since their balloons no longer provide any lift when the air outside the balloon is as hot as that inside it.

Prosser, Washington

Another great festival, although not nearly as large as Albuquerque or Reno, is that in Prosser Washington.  At this festival, the terrain is unparalleled.  Prosser is set  in the middle of Washington's wine country with a very slow-moving river flowing through it.  As such it is an ideal site for "Splash-n-Dashes".  The balloons rise from the airport (guests welcome) in the early morning and float (hopefully) in the direction of the river, where they attempt to put down as many splashes as possible, before losing their lift.  Ideally, they will arrive at the high school grounds before that happens and be able to pack up in an orderly manner.  As any balloonist knows, this is not always possible.

The Prosser festival also features a "Night Glow" on Saturday night.  Here, the balloons line up on the football field and light off their burners (weather permitting).  The night sky is filled with the glow of as many balloons as can fill the football field. 

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

This festival has been going on for three years and is staged in the Post Falls Greyhound Race Track's infield with an abbreviated, but beautiful, nightglow the first night in the plaza in downtown Coeur d'Alene.  The setting is a beautiful grassy park with Lake Coeur d'Alene in the background.  The following morning and the morning after that include Sunrise Launches at the race track and the last evening includes a massive Night Glow in the infield of the race track.  It's a festival well worth attending.

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