HOW DO I GET A RIDE ON A HOT-AIR BALLOON?

Paid Rides
Flights cost $160 per person (cash only please)...There will be a signup sheet at the information booth. (You must also tell your approximate weight). Please indicate if you are flying together.  There are approximately 50 paid rides available per flight. If, for example, you wanted to fly Saturday morning, you can register Friday evening until 8:30, or take your chances in the morning. For morning flights, you must be at the Launch Field Entrance before 06:15am, and listen for your name to be called. As the launch window comes quickly, we can only call your name a couple of times and have to move on...

A new signup sheet is started after each flight.   Existing names left on the signup sheet can be added to the next flights signup sheet at the gate only, and after the paid rides are sold out...otherwise you may register for the next flight, at the information booth.

*canceled flights will be reimbursed and you can sign up for the next flight before leaving the launch field.

*if there are two or more people, it is not always possible to go in the same balloon...we try our best.

For more information, please visit our information booth on the fiesta grounds.

Launch times during the event   (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), are approx; 6:30 am and 6:00 pm.

Paid Rides are available Thursday September 10th.

NO Parking on the grounds. 

Various community groups will be parking vehicles around the fiesta grounds.  Designated Handicap parking will be available using the Eveleigh Street Entrance.

Please NO Dogs on the Grounds. 

SPECTATOR  TIPS

1. Dress in layers, It’s sometimes very cool in the morning, but after the sun comes up, it will warm up noticeably.

2. Don’t smoke anywhere near the balloons! A lit cigarette could possibly ignite a balloon’s fuel tank.

3. Decide among your group where you could meet in case someone gets separated or lost. Make sure your children have some identification on them.

4. Watch where you’re going! Don’t "drive and watch" at the same time. The balloons are a magnificent, but a distracting sight. Move completely to the side of the road to watch.

5. Beware of vehicles moving around the field, especially emergency vehicles needing to get through the crowd.

6. It is very important for all spectators to Please stay behind the roped off area! The balloons need plenty of space to prepare for flight!

Photo Tips

Move in Close:
Create simpler, bolder pictures that are not cluttered with unwanted detail. Close-ups provide variety and add interest to pictures. Take the overall view, then a tight view, then some close-ups of the details.

Watch the Background:
Look for simple backgrounds to minimize distraction from the subject. Explore the variety of viewpoints available for your subject. A low angle, looking into the blue sky can produce a simple and pleasant background. Try a low angle when posing friends near a balloon.

Subject Placement in the Frame:
Off-center placement of your subject creates a dynamic balance.

Front Lighting:
When the sun shines over your shoulder you'll capture the brightest and most saturated colors.

Side Lighting:
When the light shines across the scene, the mix of light and shadow creates a realistic, 3D looking photograph with an excellent feeling for depth and texture.

The magic hour of twilight:
Dawn or dusk create beautiful lighting opportunities where the warmth of "Balloon Glow" blends with velvet blue of muted skylight. Photographers call this "the jewel box effect". Twilight and night are low levels of light which require high speed films.  Flash will help in situations of close range, but will not help for overall scenes.

Lens Choice:
Normal (50 mm) or wide angle (24, 28 or 35mm) allows moving close to the balloons to avoid people. Telephoto, or telephoto zoom (70-210mm) for details out of reach.

Keep Your Camera Steady!
Gently squeeze the shutter release for sharper photos.
Keep Shutter Speeds Fast!
Faster shutter speeds, such as a 1/250 of a second generally provide sharper pictures when using telephoto lenses and hand-holding your camera.