Balloons Launch 54th Vernon Winter Carnival

Hot Air Balloons filling the skies is a sure sign that the Winter Carnival has arrived in Vernon, British Columbia. It’s a highlight of the Vernon Winter Carnival’s opening ceremonies.

Balloonists come from miles away to entertain Vernon Winter Carnival participants who got a chance to view the balloons up close, meet the pilots and ask questions they’ve always wanted to ask.

A flick of the wrist, a brilliant swoosh of flame and the first giant Hot Air Balloon lifts slowly into the clear February skies over Vernon. Minutes later more of the brightly coloured balloons rise into the air. From almost any vantage point in the valley, the balloons are visible as they drift and dance in the changing wind currents.

For over two decades, the giant balloons have announced the opening weekend of the annual Vernon Winter Carnival. From the Friday evening Balloon Glow, through to the Sunday morning Flag Grab you will have the opportunity to admire these gentle giants. Residents and visitors flock to Polson Park, the site of the Balloon Glow, where they can get a close look at the giant balloons which glow in the darkness as the flames from the burners keep the balloons inflated. This is a great family event!

For the pilots, the weekend is one of friendly competition. On Friday and Saturday they participate in Hare and Hound chases. The first balloon, “the hare”, makes use of a ten minute start to find a suitable site to locate a target. The rest of the pilots, “the hounds”, use their skills to track “the hare”, and drop markers as close the the target as possible. It sounds easy, but wind shifts and altitude can make it a difficult event for the most skilled pilot.

Sunday’s flag grab requires the pilots to employ strategy, skill and experience as they attempt to guide the giant balloons close enough to a 12′ pole located on Swan Lake to grab the flag attached to it. Pilots can launch from anywhere around the lake, with crews carefully watching the winds, in order to choose the best launch site. Once airborne they must find the right combinations of wind and direction to fly close enough to grab the flag. The pilots only get one attempt to get the flag or the pilot forfeits the prize.

Weather can be a strong deterrent and all flights are weather dependant.

Video: John Phillips.