The city of Provo hosts a big festival every 4th of July and one of the main events is a hot air balloon launch. I've always wanted to attend but we are really not early-risers if we can help it (especially N) so it never seemed like the right time. But this year our friends and neighbors were going and graciously offered us the two extra seats in their van so Mimi and I rolled out at bed at 5:10am and tagged along.
It was totally worth it :)
There were around 12 hot air balloons spread out on the ground in a field behind Provo High School waiting to be inflated. People sat on blankets and camping chairs hanging out and waiting. Unfortunately it was too windy for the balloons to launch but the crews still inflated them to show them off to the crowd (and then deflated them).
It was fascinating to see the crews inflate the balloons. It was crowded and people were able to stand close to the balloons as they went up. The heat coming off the burners was intense; we could feel it on our faces.
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| A crew squeezing the air out of a deflating balloon. |
I didn't mind that much that the balloons couldn't launch since watching them inflate was so interesting but Mimi was a little bummed as you can see in the above picture. Later that day we were driving on the freeway past some windmills and she indignantly said, "They should have turn off those windmills so the balloons could've taken off!" and cracked us up.
Early morning wake up aside, it was great. I would definitely attend this or another balloon launch again if I have the chance.
If you're in Utah the city of Sandy is having
a balloon festival on August 7th and 8th, including a "balloon glow" in the evening. The website says that some of the pilots will need help so if you come early you may be able to volunteer to help crew a balloon--how cool would that be?
Labels: family outings, for locals, funny things my kid did/said, holidays, Mimi
