49th annual Snowmass Balloon Festival takes off this weekend
Sara Stookey Sanchez/Snowmass Tourism
Fall is upon us and with it comes the 49th annual Snowmass Balloon Festival. This weekend, pilots from across the country will converge to fly their balloons above the Colorado Rockies.
“We have 32 balloons this year, we have to cap it. We have a waiting list, but we can only fit 32 below that field. It’s a small field to launch, and, you know, there are not very many places to land either, so we have to be careful that we’re not overloading the area,” said official balloon meister Colleen Johnson. “Pilots want to come and fly the valley because it’s so beautiful.”
Meister said pilots can participate in the Snowmass Balloon Festival by invitation only. She has been heading up the festival for 15 years and personally chooses all the pilots, ensuring they’ve met all flight regulations.
She said the process of becoming a balloon pilot is much the same as getting a fixed-wing pilot’s license. It includes going to ground school, taking a specific number of hours of instruction, a written test, an oral exam, and then a designator exam. The designated examiner then flies with you before signing off on the private license.
“It’s so peaceful, and it brings a lot of joy to the people that you’re flying,” she explained. “Most people say that they just didn’t imagine it was going to be like it is. It’s just floating, because you’re going with the wind current. The other exciting thing is that you never know where you are going, it’s wherever the wind takes you. You have to be prepared.”
Johnson, who brings her multicolored balloon, named “Mary Alice in Wonderland,” fell in love with flying while teaching in Albuquerque, New Mexico, home to one of the most prominent festivals in the country.
“I was teaching kindergarten and living in Albuquerque and I started crewing for some ladies and was interested in becoming a pilot,” she said. “My grandpa bought me my first balloon. I got my pilot’s license 18 years ago.”
On Saturday and Sunday, spectators can watch the balloons launch into the air from 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m. amidst the sunrise and background of Snowmass. On Friday evening guests can head to Snowmass Town Park for a night glow, where balloons glow against the backdrop of a Snowmass sunset.
Each day, spectators can walk right up to the balloons in the field and talk to the pilots who are eager to educate the public about flying. If you don’t want to be that close, you can bike or walk around Snowmass — Rim Trail and Sky Mountain Park are great viewing areas — to view the flights.
While rides are not available for purchase throughout the weekend, volunteers are usually always needed, often up to the day of the event. Volunteers help with check-in, pulling balloons out of the basket before inflation, and collecting and rolling balloons back up. To volunteer for the event, click here.
Parking is available at Town Park Station and the Rodeo Lot. The launch field — located next to Black Saddle at the Snowmass Club — will be open to the public for up-close viewing of the launch on Saturday and Sunday. At the launch field, you can find music and food trucks with breakfast and coffee options. Please keep in mind that no dogs are allowed at the launch field.
The Snowmass Village Shuttle provides free public transportation throughout Snowmass Village to Town Park. Routes and pick-up locations can be found here.
“It’s just an amazing experience,” Johnson said. “People love watching the process of inflating the balloon and seeing the balloons with Snowmass Mountain in the background. It’s a pretty great opportunity for everybody to experience it.”
Sarah Girgis is the Arts and Entertainment Editor for The Aspen Times. She can be reached at 970-429-9151 or sgirgis@aspentimes.com.
