Local News | Frederick in Flight hot air balloon festival creates visual spectacles
Jun. 21—The magic of flight is available to all this weekend during Frederick's 13th annual hot air balloon festival.
On Friday morning, Frederick in Flight drew spectators to Centennial Park as early as 5:30 a.m. to catch the action. The free festival will continue Saturday and Sunday at the park, 630 Eighth St., with balloon lifts each day at 6 a.m.
Due to cloudy conditions and low visibility on Friday, the balloons weren't able to launch. The pilots were still able to entertain kids and adults with a "static display" of their inflated balloons tethered to the ground.
"(It's about) the beauty of being around the balloons," said Jessica Hill, communications and engagement specialist for Frederick.
Hill said weather conditions look favorable for the rest of the weekend, though all balloon lifts are subject to cancellation for safety reasons.
This year's festival theme is "Wild West," which accounted for a couple of cowboy-themed balloons that debuted Friday. The park will host a "Balloon Bash" party on Saturday evening featuring live country music, as the town expects roughly 5,000 people to attend.
Hill said Frederick residents get excited about the festival every year. She said it's been fun to watch Frederick in Flight grow alongside the town's other signature events, like Chainsaws and Chuckwagons and Miners Day.
"We have these niche event cultures," Hill said. "I think Frederick does that really well. It's so cool to have a community that thrives on coming to events and loves community engagement."
This year's Frederick in Flight pulled more than 25 hot air balloon pilots from across the country. Some were closer than others, such as John Bell with Love Hot Air Balloon Rides in Loveland.
"It's always great to connect with, especially, the local guys," Bell said of the nearby pilots. "It's a very small-knit community."
The festival's balloons took several shapes, from cartoon animals to traditional ellipses. Bell's balloon — a massive red heart — still got to be admired by guests during the static display, despite the uncooperative weather.
Pilot Andy Samuelson traveled from Riverton, Wyo. to attend the festival for the first time.
"I like that it's an art and a science," Samuelson said of hot air ballooning. "It's the science of the weather and the temperature and the pressure, but then the art of steering it using the different winds ... to get your balloon to go where you want it to go."
Nissa Hall, from Boulder, said she loves the sense of adventure she gets from riding in a hot air balloon.
"It totally gives you another perspective in your day-to-day life," Hall said. "You take a moment to breathe in the beauty of our Earth."
For a full festival schedule, visit frederickco.gov.
