Shapes, Flickers and Flexibility

(2025 Balloons and Beyond Ep 7)

Specially shaped balloons are a favorite of Balloon Fiesta attendees.  Balloons shaped like animals, cartoon characters and even a concrete truck capture spectators’ attention and bring smiles to their faces.

We hope some of the following balloons do the same for you!

Fantastic Fiesta Friday

Yesterday (Friday) was a great day at the Fiesta.  Weather conditions for the morning’s mass ascension were perfect, and we were awestruck as hundreds of balloons were launched in clear and calm skies.

The evening program included a balloon glow/flicker, drone show and fireworks.  We were glad the weather was great considering Thursday’s evening program was rained out!

During the glow/flicker, hundreds of balloons were fully inflated but not launched.  They stood tall across the Fiesta grounds. 

As thousands of attendees counted down, the balloon pilots responded with coordinated bursts of flaming propane that made the balloons glow.  Some countdowns were followed by short propane bursts that made the balloons flicker.

The glow/flicker was followed by a drone show.  We were impressed with how well the 500+ drones flew in formation to create various images – images that moved, changed color and told a story.

The drone show morphed into a spectacular firework finale for the evening – from the north and west sides of the Fiesta grounds.

Today (Saturday) Required Flexibility

This morning, we woke to raindrops tapping on our camper roof.  Although the Dawn Patrol and mass ascension were cancelled, attendees were treated to a static balloon display instead.  Balloons were fully inflated but not launched like a balloon glow/flicker.  Seeing hundreds of balloons on the field during the daytime was interesting, much different than the normal mass ascension when balloons are inflated and launched in groups.

Check Out – Pap and Percy on the Move

Our time at the Fiesta campground ended Saturday morning.   We left to spend Saturday night at a church several miles away with an elevated view of the Fiesta grounds.

Saturday Evening Flexibility

This evening, we watched from afar as balloon pilots performed candlestick burns. Winds were too strong to set up and inflate the balloons for the glow/flicker, so pilots ignited their propane burners from their upright gondolas casting tall flaming flumes into the sky.   

Tomorrow

We will be joining members of the church for breakfast as the final mass ascension of the 2025 Balloon Fiesta takes place.  We’ll let you know tomorrow evening how things go as we wrap up the balloons portion of this RabbiTRAILs Balloons and Beyond series.