Balloon Festival

Until today...I had know idea what a Balloon Festival was. Reading some information on events around Yuma I read about the Colorado River Crossing, Balloon Festival. I thought it would be a fun thing to go to. Then I found out that the only day we could go...the event started at 7:00 am? So away we went at 6:45am to see this happening. First of all we could not believe all the people that were there so early in the morning!

'Flag Ceremony'

The first balloon up has the Flag and the National Anthem is play. 

(Now I know what the Flag Ceremony is!)

I was in awe as this was so new to me. I took lots and lots of pictures, which I am sure you do not want to see. So I will take you through the process of putting one balloon into the air. There were over 20 balloons in this launch scattered around the field.

The basket is unloaded and laid out, with a fan beside it.

The balloon is stretched out across the field.

That fan...blows air into the balloon to start blowing it up!

Once the balloon is high enough...they use the gas to finish blowing it up.

The basket is loaded..

And away she goes!

So that is happening all around you 20 x....The following are some pictures of the whole field.

In a matter of 45 minutes...the field was empty and the sky was full...