CyberCelt | October 17, 2008 in Bed n Breakfasts, Camping, Family Fun, Guided Tours, RV Travel, Skywatching | Comments (2)
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Ballooning in Texas and Southwest USA
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2008 Hot Air Balloon Festival Schedule
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(Dates are subject to change by the respective balloon festivals but this is a good starting point for general planning purposes:
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Date
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Festival
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Commentary
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April 3-5
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Cajun Hot Sauce Festival
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This festival features Zydeco bands, food, fun, and balloons.
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May 3-4?
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Celebration of Flight Balloon Fest
Carthage, Texas
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This balloon festival is located deep in East Texas (think Tyler, Longview, Nacogdoches) and features about 20 balloons. The proceeds all go to scholarships to Panola College.
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May 23-24
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Heritage Flight Festival
Palestine, Texas
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This festival will be held at the Palestine Municipal Airport; While there, you must enjoy a trip on the restored steam powered railroad which does day trips to Rusk and back.
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July 11-13
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Great Texas Balloon Race
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This East Texas festival is held in Longview and typically features ~ 75 balloons. Visitors are given field access and the post balloon show includes vintage planes, T6 trainers, tearman Bi-Plan and hopefully a B-52D flyover.
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Aug 6-8
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BFA SE Championship
Baton Rouge, La
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A BFA championship balloon competition held in Baton Rouge, LA
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Aug 15-17
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Annual Lions Balloon Festival at Highland Village
Copperas Branch Park, Highland Village, Tx
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This is the only balloon festival in North Texas where spectators are permitted on the field with the balloons and balloonists, providing an excellent photo opportunity as well as opportunity to converse with pilots and crew.
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Labor Day Weekend
Aug 30 – Sept 1
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Big Bend Balloon Bash (Alpine, Texas)
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Alpine, Texas is located on the foothills of the Davis Mountains and on the Southern most part of the Rocky Mountain fault line. The air is clean and clear. The people are warm and friendly. And the scenery only looks better with beautiful balloons for dramatic affect.
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Sept 19-21
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Ravenna Balloon A-Fair
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Sunbeau Valley Farm, Ravenna, Ohio
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Sept 18-21
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Plano Balloon Festival
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This is the 2nd largest balloon festival in Texas. Held annually in North Dallas, the festival features live music, a great midway, and LOTS of balloons.
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Sept 14-16
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White Sands Balloon Invitational
Alamogordo, NM
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If you’re interested in capturing the beautiful shapes and colors of balloons dancing across a white sand dune canvas, this festival is for you.
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Sept 26-28
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Big Country Balloon Festival
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Abilene, Texas – A charming festival in West Texas with the best of the best in balloon festival emcees (Glen Moyer)
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Oct.3-12
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Albuquerque, NM
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Albuquerque is the largest balloon festival in the WORLD. If you want to see 800+ beautiful balloons in a Southwestern setting, this is a must attend festival!
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Oct 24-26
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Pirates of the Canyon, Amarillo, Tx
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This delightful festival features a Friday and Sunday morning flight at Palo Duro Canyon, 2nd largest canyon in the US. The colors and imagery of this flying are amazing.
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Oct 31-Nov 2
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Houston Ballunar Liftoff Festival
cancelled due to Hurricane Ivan
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This festival, held annually at NASA in Clear Lake, is Texas’ largest balloon festival. The sight of 90+ balloons floating over Clear Lake is a photographer’s dream.
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Dec 6-7
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Red Rock Balloon Rally
Gallup, NM
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This annual festival features some amazing photographic opportunities.
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@Heather-I love that Alpine and that area out there. You can see the stars so clearly. Besides for me, my entire family lives in Houston. There are pockets of beauty in Houston and it is always green.
My parents have been RV’ing for the past six years. They are staying in Marathon, Texas however, lived in Alpine for years. They love, love, love it out there. It’s so beautiful. I live in Houston. Not so beautiful!
Heather’s last blog post..Day at the zoo and Entrecard issues….Ugh!