Hot air balloon festivals
Balloonavista in Buena Vista
Steamboat Rainbow Weekend in Steamboat Springs, July 7-8
Rocky Mountain Balloon Festival at
Chatfield Reservoir south of Denver
Colorado Balloon Classic in Colorado Springs
Children’s eyes sparkle when they
see bright-colored balloons the size of
a basketball. Imagine the awe of the
children and the adults when dozens
of brightly colored hot-air balloons as
tall as a three-story building slowly
lift off the ground into the bright blue
morning sky.
That’s a balloon festival.
A hot-air balloon is a large nylon
envelop. The crew spreads it out on
the ground, uses a fan to push air into
the envelop so the pilot can fire up
the burner, heat up the air in the
envelop. As the air heats, it begins to
rise and lift the balloon erect. Then,
with the captured air provides
the energy and lifts the balloon
into the air.
Balloons come in all the colors
of the rainbow. It used to be
all balloons were the same
shape. But inventive owners
have changed that. At festivals,
it isn’t unusual to see a tiger’s
head, a Teddy bear, giant T-Rex
dinosaur or a house. Of course,
the commercial aspect has crept
in and some of the shaped balloons
are emblazoned with
the trade
marks of various companies.
Once airborne, the only sound is
the breeze whistling in the rigging
and the occasional “whoosh”as the
burner heats the air to keep the balloon
aloft and the view from the basket
under the balloon is awe inspiring.
The balloon moves with the wind.
The pilot will increase or decrease the
altitude of the balloon, looking for
wind currents to push the balloon
toward its intended touch-down area.
When it’s time to land, the pilot lets
the air in the envelop cool and the
balloon descends. Eventually, the basket
will bump along the ground until
the crew grabs it and brings it to a
halt.
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