We had heard about this fiesta for years, as many of you probably have. Never did we dream that we would some day actually be able to attend. Yesterday was the first day of the fiesta, and we weren’t about to pass up the opportunity.
Starting at seven in the morning, and over the next ninety minutes, around 600 air balloons take to the skies. This is a nine day fiesta, so every morning for nine days the skies are filled with colorful balloons. It is probably a spectacular sight, but we didn’t go in the morning. There is an evening session, and the four of us went to that instead. Obviously, the air balloons aren’t in flight after dark. But the show they put on while tethered to the ground was unbelievable.
Toward sunset, around one hundred balloons started inflating on the field before us. Before long, all of these balloons were completely inflated and the burners were turned on perdiodically. As the darkness grew, the sight of all of the balloons lit up by the burners was awesome. We were sitting only about 50 feet from some of them, and could walk out between the balloons as they were lighting up. Everybody had huge smiles on their faces. You had to, it was just so amazing to be in there among these balloons lighting up. There were different shapes, including one that was a cement mixer, one that was a cow, and others that I never imagined as a hot air balloon.
This went on for well over an hour, balloons lighting up, sometimes all at once. Then, after they were all deflated, a drone show. Each drone had a small, solid balloon attached to the top of it. They were computer programmed to take on different shapes and messages. All of it was basically a tribute to Route 66 and it’s one hundred year history. It was absolutely amazing.
After all of this, the evening concluded with a twenty minute fireworks show. It was a fitting end to the night we had all just enjoyed. If anyone reading this has ever thought of attending the fiesta, and you get the chance, I highly recommend taking it in. We all do. And now, photos. Enjoy.
I forgot to mention that before the balloons were inflated, there were skydivers floating down on to the field! And yes, your eyes are not deceiving you. The first picture shows one skydiver riding on the top of the parachute of another skydiver!!
Hope you enjoyed this. Be happy. Love each other.
