| Hot air balloon festivals are held annually | | | | a target. |
| throughout the year, and give a chance for | | | | |
| balloonists to participate in balloon races | | | | The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is |
| and display their balloons during evening | | | | held during August in Bristol, United |
| balloon glows, and for the public to | | | | Kingdom. Teams from all over the UK and other |
| participate in the spectacle of many balloons | | | | parts of the world bring their hot air |
| gathered in one spot and to learn about the | | | | balloons to the site and participate in mass |
| sport. | | | | ascents where as many as 100 balloons may |
| | | | launch at a time. |
| The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta | | | | |
| is a yearly gathering of hot air balloon | | | | The event is one of the largest in Europe and |
| enthusiasts from around the world, occurring | | | | it is common to have crowds of over 100,000 |
| in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, during the | | | | on each of the four days of the festival. It |
| first two weeks of October. The event, the | | | | takes place in a large country estate Ashton |
| largest of its kind in the world, lasts ten | | | | Court. Balloon launches are attempted twice a |
| days and includes a fleet of nearly 750 hot | | | | day, at 6am and 6pm, subject to weather |
| air balloons with pilots from throughout the | | | | conditions. |
| United States and the world. | | | | |
| | | | One popular attraction is the night glow, |
| Each and every year, dozens of colorful | | | | when balloons are inflated and glow to music |
| balloons take to the skies of Decatur, | | | | after dark. Another attraction is the large |
| Alabama's Point Mallard Park, for the Alabama | | | | number of special shaped balloons which take |
| Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic over the | | | | off in addition to the regular ones. |
| Memorial Day holiday weekend (May 28-29). | | | | |
| | | | In 2003 the weight of crowds returning from |
| Public admission is free of charge. | | | | the Balloon Fiesta and Ashton Court festival |
| | | | put such great strain on the Clifton |
| The Great Pershing Balloon Derby is a hot air | | | | Suspension Bridge that it was decided to |
| balloon festival named in honor of General | | | | close the bridge to all traffic, including |
| John J. Pershing and held every year since | | | | pedestrians, during these events from 2004 |
| 1977 over the Labor Day weekend near | | | | onwards. |
| Brookfield, Missouri. | | | | |
| | | | Plano Balloon Festival is held each September |
| The balloon derby is held in conjunciton with | | | | in the City of Plano, Texas. The 27th Annual |
| many other festivities in nearby Brookfield | | | | ViewPoint Bank Plano Balloon Festival was |
| including beauty contests, concerts, parades, | | | | held September 22 - 24, 2006 at Oak Point |
| and a fly-in at the local airport. | | | | Park. Subsequent Plano Balloon Festivals are |
| | | | scheduled for September 21 - 23, 2007 and |
| The derby itself is held at the Myron Peacher | | | | September 19 - 21, 2008. |
| Memorial Launch Site, an open field on State | | | | |
| Road FF about two miles north of U.S. Highway | | | | Possible events include balloon launch; |
| 36 between Brookfield and Laclede, Missouri. | | | | various shows ranging from children's science |
| | | | exhibits to dancers; and live bands. A |
| Launches are generally at dusk and dawn on | | | | paraglider group may descend to the balloon |
| Saturday and Sunday and at dawn on Monday | | | | launch field. After dusk, several balloon |
| (Labor Day). A night glow is usually held at | | | | pilots assemble with their equipment on the |
| sunset on Sunday evening. | | | | balloon launch field and conduct synchronized |
| | | | firings of their balloon's burners, an event |
| Great Texas Balloon Race is held each July | | | | known as a balloon glow. Weather may alter |
| near the City of Longview, Texas. It is | | | | the performance of events, either by |
| billed as "The longest running hot-air | | | | preventing or delaying a particular |
| balloon event in Texas." | | | | performance, or by eliminating some element |
| | | | of the performance. For example, the balloon |
| Various events are held at the Great Texas | | | | glow can be performed without the usual hot |
| Balloon Race over several days. These events | | | | air envelope over the gondola. The day's |
| include competitions, including a key grab | | | | events may end with a fireworks display. |
| and a balloon race. The key grab consists of | | | | |
| a prize attached to the top of a 20-foot | | | | The venue of the Plano Balloon Festival |
| (7-meter) pole, which balloon pilots attempt | | | | precludes events common at other balloon |
| to grab from the pole as they pilot their | | | | festivals, such as the key grab or bag drop. |
| balloons. The race consists of pilots using | | | | Such competitions require large, open spaces |
| shifting wind directions at various altitudes | | | | for the balloons to maneuver. The City of |
| to steer towards a destination, where they | | | | Plano is located within the Dallas/Fort Worth |
| attempt to drop a bag as close as possible to | | | | Metroplex, which is densely populated. |