Cañon City explores hosting balloon festival

Colorado Springs and Albuquerque already have well-known hot-air balloon festivals. The Colorado Balloon Classic is a tradition at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs over Labor Day weekend.

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is held annually in early October. Now, there may be a spring balloon festival just down the road from the Springs.

Cañon City officials are hoping to host a balloon festival May 24 to 26, according to the Cañon City Daily Record.

“The Albuquerque Balloon Festival did about $91 million net,” said Rob Brown, interim executive director of the Fremont Economic Devlopment Corp.  “The Colorado Springs Balloon Classic brings in 50,000 spectators a day.

“We’ve got our toe in the water here.”

The local event would have six hot air balloons, Brown said. If it’s a success, a full-fleged festival will be planned for 2015, and if that’s a success, Fremont County will be able to compete for the Colorado Springs Classic, Brown said.

via The Gazette.