2010's Balloon launches return to GRACE GARDENS, 6701 Westside Drive...it's a little closer, and there's A LOT more room!

It's still free to get up close to the balloons as they launch!

SPECIAL SHAPE BALLOONS:

The Little Bees!

The Little Bees are the worlds only "Tandem Flying" special shaped hot air balloons. They love to fly together holding hands as they inflate and launch. This signature launch shows the crowds the Little Bees dance hug and kiss thier way across the sky. The Little Bees were built in Brazil for Aerial Marketing LLC of Peoria, AZ. These two almost identical balloons have thrilled spectators at balloon festivals all over the world. From Sydney, Australia to Montreal, Canada, all over the USA and most recently in Trim, County Meath Ireland. Joey and Lilly have become the most favorite balloons of all ages at every event attended.

PILOTS!

Get your registration form right here and sign up to be a part of this year's Balloonfest!

Balloons are aircraft, regulated under the same Federal Aviation Regulations as every other category. Balloons are aerostats (static within the air) - once a balloon is aloft, it moves in sync with the air mass in which it floats. The modern hot air balloon is made up of three main parts: the envelope, the basket, and the burner.

The envelope is the colorful “balloon” part and is sewn into many patterns - geometric designs and custom shapes. It is made from heat resistant, rip-stop nylon. It is coated internally with a plastic which helps contain heat. The envelope is folded, rolled, and stored in a canvas-like bag kept in a cool, dry place to avoid mildew and is continuously checked for any heat damage or tears. If well maintained, a balloon envelope should last 500 or more flying hours.

The wicker basket (sometimes called the “gondola”) is woven with a tight, vertical weave, well suited to resisting entanglement in branches or power lines. A finishing urethane coating inside and out ensures the wicker will resist becoming brittle or rotten from exposure to moisture. This maintains the wicker's ability to flex, absorbing and distributing any bumps during landings. The basket contains the propane tanks and an instrument panel - usually a compass, altimeter, rate of climb indicator, fuel quantity gauge and pyrometer (envelope temperature indicator).

The heart of the balloon is the burner, usually rigged on a rigid brace over the pilot’s head and controlled by means of a hand valve. Hot air balloons use plain old air as the lifting gas. By heating the air inside the balloon (with blasts from the burner), the pilot makes that air less dense (lighter) than the outside air, and the balloon rises. As the internal air cools, the balloon becomes heavier, and descends.

El Paso’s first Hot Air Balloon Festival lifted gently off the ground on May 17th & 18th, 1986 at Mountain Shadow Lakes, now known as “Lake El Paso”. The event attracted 42 hot air balloon teams from throughout the Southwest. Since the lake wasn’t officially open at that time, admission was free to see the balloons and a spectacular crowd drove out to far east El Paso to see the beginning of El Paso’s newest annual tradition . . . the KLAQ Balloonfest was born!

The following year, 1987, two new dimensions were added to the festival: musical concerts and the International Hot Air Balloon Flight, in which 25 balloons flew from the United States to Mexico and back into the United States.

Also in 1987, the first Balloonfest band was Little Anthony & The Imperials. They played on the first day, while the Gregg Allman Band played on the second day. In the initial years, a number of oldies bands played the event because KLAQ’s sister-station featured an Oldies format. Other Balloonfest bands which followed in the Oldies tradition included: The Association, The Grass Roots, Tommy James and the Shondells.

As for Rock bands, the Q has hosted several of the best rock bands during the Balloonfest concerts. Following Gregg Allman, came the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughan, Cheap Trick, Steppenwolf, Bad Company, Sammy Hagar, The Stray Cats, The Edgar Winter Group Band, plus many more. In recent years, the concerts have become contemporary, featuring artists such as Candle Box, Dishwalla, Drowning Pool, Seven Mary Three, Better Than Ezra, Default; plus, this year’s line-up of Trapt, Shinedown, and Thousand Foot Krutch.

The location: In 1992, the event moved from Mountain Shadow Lake to Wet ‘n Wild Waterworld, moving from the city’s far east side to the far west side of El Paso county. Wet ‘n Wild located at I-Ten and Anthony exit “zero”, was an ideal location, as we used an area just outside the water park to launch the balloons for FREE. On the launch field, people can get close to the hot air balloons as they inflate and prepare for takeoff.

About Grace Gardens

Grace Gardens, in El Paso’s Upper Valley, is our new Balloonfest launch site! Located at 6701 Westside Drive, parking begins at 5:00 a.m., the pilot briefing at 6:00 a.m., followed by the hot air balloon launch (weather permitting).

Minutes away from downtown, is an oasis in the country side of El Paso. Grace Gardens is a premier venue that can host thousands of guests as well as small intimate gatherings. Situated on ten acres of land, you can appreciate the beautiful southwest sunsets and stunning views of the Franklin Mountains.

Often the Balloonfest is one of the most photographed events of the year. Also, on the launch field, people can purchase Balloonfest pins, t-shirts, posters, souvenirs, along with coffee, juice, breakfast pastries, etc.

About Wet ‘n Wild . . .

Wet ‘n’ Wild Water World is unique in that they have over 200 mature shade trees providing more square feet of shade per customer than any other water park in the world. Wet ‘n’ Wild also allows their guests to bring in their own food and drink, reflecting the enormous popularity of outdoor barbecuing in the area.

Wet ‘n’ Wild Water World is also the site of numerous musical festivals during the summer, from the Balloonfest over Memorial Day weekend to the Norteno festival in July to concerts + events in October.

In 2000 they added their longest slide to date: the thrilling Amazon, which cascades down from a 50 ft height through water curtains and dark twists and turns to land next to the Wild Island Wave Pool. The newest ride, the Alien Vortex, is one of the fastest and thrilling rides; it is not for the faint of heart!

Over the 25 years of operation, the fun and excitement has proven addictive to not only their guests- but to the staff as well!

PAST BALLOONFEST SPECIAL SHAPE BALLOONS

One of the "hottest" Special Shapes: a 128 foot Chile Ristra. The balloon possesses 54 red chili peppers ranging in length from 20 to 30 feet. This 12 story monstrosity is 70 feet in width and would supply 22,176,302 4-oz cans of chili!


KLAQ Balloonfest--is not joking around, but did bring in a special shape called "Lady Jester". This balloon is a large Mardi Gras jester to get us into the party mood at this year's Balloonfest.


"Something Fishy", the largest flying fish in the world. It would take a double garage sized fish tank to house this flying fish!


Jesus came back...Jesus, the Hot Air Balloon that is courtesy of the El Paso Christian Directory.


Also sponsored by the El Paso Christian Directory is Arky, The Hot Air Balloon. This is an amazing balloon depicting Noah's Ark with all the animals aboard.


A new shape to the El Paso area...a large sun! And on one side of the sun, the sun is wearing sunglasses.