A popular event takes to the skies around High River this coming week.
More than 20 balloon pilots from Alberta and around the world are expected for the annual Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival, from Sept. 25 to 29 in High River.
The schedule is weather-dependent and subject to change, and spectators are encouraged to check the festival's website or social media accounts for up-to-date information.
A balloon glow on Friday, Sept. 27 is a highlight of the event and allows spectators to walk among balloons that are inflated but stay on the ground.
The event begins at 5 p.m. in Wallaceville, with pre-glow activities and food trucks. Pilots begin inflating their balloons about 30 minutes before sunset, wrapping up at 9 p.m.
It’s free to watch the daily launches or attend the balloon glow. For more information, including schedules and maps, visit heritageinninternationalballoonfestival.com.
Spectators can walk among hot air balloons during a special event tonight in High River.
The Balloon Glow is a highlight of the Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival. During the glow, pilots inflate their balloons and invite visitors to get up close.
"Once all the balloons are inflated and the go signal is given, your chance to get up close and personal to the balloons begins," organizers said.
Activities begin at 5 p.m. with a walk-in balloon, DJ and dancers, and food trucks along Centre Street in the Wallaceville area.
Balloon pilots and crews start to inflate their canopies from approximately 7 to 7:30 p.m.
The glow ends at about 8:30 p.m. and the event winds up at 9 p.m.
With large crowds expected, there are several options for parking. Park N' Ride lots are set up on the north and south parts of town, with shuttles taking visitors to the glow site, and there is a Park N' Walk lot just to the north. Parking in those areas is $20 per vehicle and is cash only, as are some vendors, organizers say.
Free accessible parking is available at the south entrance only.
Organizers say visitors should watch for updates on social media and should plan to arrive early.
The Balloon Glow is just one part of the festival. Weather permitting, pilots fly from a launch site as many as two times per day.
The next flights are scheduled for 7:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. on Sept. 28, and the final chance to fly is in the morning on Sept. 28.
The wind died down and over 10,000 people poured into the field for the Balloon Glow Friday night.
It's the most popular event during the 12th annual Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival in High River.
There was something extra special this time too because this year the festival's theme 'Women of the Wind' celebrated women aeronauts.
Six women pilots are at this year's festival, and they were recognized on stage along with one special surprise guest.
The special guest was a female RCMP officer in full red serge and a female police officer helicopter pilot who flew in and landed in the field just behind the stage much to the delight of the crowd.
Hundreds of young families made it out again this year and with a record 22 food trucks, the crowd was kept fed and watered and entertained with a live DJ.
It was a selfie's paradise once dusk started to set in and spectators were allowed onto the field to get up close and personal with the 22 balloonists and their balloons.
Most of the balloons were able to inflate as the wind died down while others just did the candlestick. That just means the pilots had their baskets out and flared their tanks.
The festival continues Saturday with two potential balloon flights at 7:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. and then one last shot at getting the balloons up on Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m.
Organizer Jamie Kinghorn made the announcement this morning at 7 a.m. during a live Facebook feed.
However, Kinghorn added that it looks like it should be a great night for the Balloon Glow.
The Balloon Glow will have about a dozen or so balloons fill up the open field in Wallaceville and then while still grounded the pilots fill up the balloons and welcome everyone onto the field.
The event starts at 5 p.m. with traffic being blocked off on Centre Street starting at 4 p.m.
The balloons will start inflating between 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. with the event wrapping up around 9 p.m.
There are also shuttle buses to avoid all the parking congestion and you'll need to bring cash.
Parking options for those attending the Balloon Glow are:
The Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival has announced that the launches scheduled for Thursday (Sept. 26) evening have been cancelled.
Strong winds have persisted following the cancellation of Wednesday's launches, and it looks like the balloons are remaining grounded for another day.
The cancellation was announced in a live stream on the festival's Facebook page.
"We're optimistic for tomorrow morning but when we start getting these winds, and we had gusts out there of up to 20 knots, I don't want to send you guys out there in that kind of condition," said the festival's founder and organizer Jamie Kinghorn during the stream.
The launches scheduled for Friday morning at 7:30 a.m. are still moving forward as planned and Balloon Glow is scheduled for Friday evening.
The full launch schedule can be seen on the festival website.
It's one busy bee weekend in High River.
The Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival continues with the Balloon Glow Friday night in Wallaceville. It will go rain, wind or shine. Hopefully, all the balloons will be able to inflate but in case the weather conditions are not favourable they will have the baskets just flare their propane. Everyone will still be able to talk to the pilots and see all the balloons.
The 3rd annual Brian Chipchase Sr. Memorial Show N' Shine is also taking place on Sunday, but all the action starts on Saturday. The parts swap meet goes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Call of the West Museum and Eamon's Garage. The Burn Out also takes place on Saturday at the new time of 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Centre Street between 3rd Ave and 7th Ave. They also have a dinner and dance lined up on Saturday night.
High River's first-ever 'Repair Cafe' is also taking place at the library from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Take household items, broken toys or whatnot and hopefully, you can save them from going to a landfill.
A special ceremony is also taking place on Saturday in George Lane Park to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation which officially takes place on Monday. On Saturday at 3:30 p.m. local Indigenous artist Jared Tailfeathers will reveal one of two tree carvings.
More information can be found on the 'Read More' links below.
Six balloon pilots, also known as aeronauts, are being celebrated in High River this weekend.
At Wednesday's opening ceremony at the Heritage Inn in High River founder and organizer of the Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival, Jamie Kinghorn acknowledged the six women hot air balloon pilots.
Two local pilots caught the flying bug while volunteering on crews and now pilot balloons of their own.
Cathy Dudgeon will be up in 'Queen Bee', which has been loaned to her this year, a change from her usual very colourful balloon.
High River's Jenn Podruski will be piloting 'Louie,' a familiar sight for many as she's been flying in the festival since 2017.
Linda Then from Calgary is back again this year and along with her husband Walt they're flying 'Big Toy 2'.
Brie Johnstone will be flying another bee-themed balloon called 'BeeLieve'.
Sanda Rolfe Whelan and her husband Bill Whelan are back from Ontario with their beehive balloon gracing the sky.
Ginny Rieger rounds out the six women aeronauts and she came all the way up from Sheridan, Wyoming making her first appearance at the festival with her balloon 'Hot N Bothered'.
There will also 'bee' some other favourite shapes returning including Buster and Bella the British Bulldogs and Princess Nellie the pink elephant.
Check here for balloon flight times.
The festival wraps up on Sunday.
A recent Facebook post on the Balloon Festival page cautions anyone attending the festival or Balloon Glow that the events are free, and anyone attempting to sell tickets is a scam.
The post points to an event listing for Balloon Glow on Showpass, saying that the event organizers are not selling tickets through the platform.
In a statement and comment on the post, Showpass clarified that while there are event listings for the Balloon Festival and Balloon Glow, both pages are intended to provide free information and reminders about the events.
"Showpass is both a ticketing service and an event discovery platform designed to help people find great experiences. Our goal is to connect communities with amazing events while supporting organizers across Canada. For Balloon Glow, we’ve shared its information to help more people experience the magic, but we’re not involved in any sales process," the comment partially reads.
Both Showpass pages do include "Buy Tickets" buttons but clicking the button on the Balloon Festival page redirects the user to an article on the event, and the button offers a free event reminder on the Balloon Glow page.
The festival runs from September 25-29, and Balloon Glow is set for Friday night starting at 5 p.m.
