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