Up, Up, and Away!

Balloon Fest 2010 will be September 10-11! Check out the photos from the 2010 Fest here!

Last weekend I had the opportunity to partake in the Kiwanis Balloon Fest. I had heard of the event before but never attended. I now realize it has been my loss to miss out these past years because this event is spectacular! balloon-fest-09-1

For the entire weekend, once in the morning and once in the evening, the pilots attempt to launch their balloons and make a short flight. I ventured out to the fairgrounds Saturday night, in hopes of seeing this launch. Upon arriving, I was promised a ride to get some photographs from the air. Even though ballooning is the safest form of air travel, the conditions that evening proved to be much too windy for a safe launch, so it was postponed. Yet all was not lost! The other special event that happens in the evening hours at the festival is the night glow. After sunset, each pilot and their team fill up their balloons, leaving them grounded, and fire up the burners, creating a magical scene. For all of you who don’t know me, night photography is a particular favorite of mine, so you can imagine my excitement throughout the glow.

Because the launch was cancelled the night before, I pulled myself out of bed early Sunday morning, in hopes of seeing another launch. As luck would have it, the conditions that morning were perfect and I finally got my balloon ride! My pilot, Mr. Halaby, and his team were extremely informative, answering all of my questions and educating me on ballooning and his piloting history.

Ballooning has its traditions, one of which is a competition amongst the pilots. The lead balloon, called the hare, takes off first and sails off in search of an open spot. No one can leave the ground before him. Once he finds a spot, he lands and makes a giant X on the ground. The other balloons race to the spot and drop a marker, trying to get as close to the middle of the X as possible. Whoever is closest wins prize money. My pilot made a very good drop but another team landed smack in the middle. After the drop was made, we looked for another open space to land. This is a particularly tricky part, as you have to find enough space without obstacles in the way. After landing in someone’s yard, Mr. Halaby, or Doc as everyone else called him, and his team brought the balloon down safely and packed up. balloon-fest-09-2

Another ballooning tradition is celebrating a safe flight with champagne. The rider must catch the cork once popped from the bottle, in order to secure a safe landing for the next passenger. I’m not sure if the next passenger will get that safe landing, as I caught the cork but it bounced out of my hands. Some pilots engage in the tradition of putting earth on their passenger’s head and “anointing” them with said champagne. Fortunately, my team was gracious and did not make me do that!

All in all, this was an experience I’m grateful to have been a part of. If you get the chance next year, make sure you stop by the Balloon Fest! To view pictures from the event, click here.