Colorado River Balloon Fest on the Horizon

This time of year, the weather here can be described by the three Cs that are music to a pilot’s ears: Cool, crisp and calm.

That’s why, every November, hot air balloon pilots and their crews head to Yuma for three days of fun at the Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival. Balloons come from throughout Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and California.

The festival, born more than 20 years ago, is one of the most popular and beloved local events hosted by Caballeros de Yuma.

Balloons will fill the sky over Yuma this year, so hot air balloon lovers should mark their calendars for Nov. 22-24 (See related schedule).

Organizers say they’re thrilled that this year’s festival will boast 32 balloons. Last year’s event played host to 26 balloons.

Organizers know that even more balloons will surely mean even more spectators, which the Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival certainly has no trouble attracting.

“El presidente” of Caballeros de Yuma, Rob Filbey, said the early-morning launches are always an especially big hit with the public.

“It’s a great way to start the day,” Filbey said. “You can get right next to the balloon as it is inflated and then watch it go up and join the other colorful balloons as they float across the countryside.”

But if the view from the ground looking up is beautiful, how must everything look from the sky? Yuma-based pilot Matt Paulin assures us that getting to stand in his basket and see fellow balloonists glide over Yuma’s beautiful landscape thrills him every time.

“You can see everything from up there. It’s absolutely incredible!” Paulin said. “You have got all the fields in their subsequent rectangles, the Colorado River, Mexico, the sand dunes. You can see everything up there. You can see the entire Yuma Valley from one vantage point.”

Speaking of the river, that’s one view that Paulin likes to see surprisingly up close, considering he’s piloting a massive hot air balloon.

“I love to do what’s called a splash and dash into the river, where you dip the basket into the river,” he said. “That’s probably my favorite thing to do in Yuma – at least in a hot air balloon.”

To find out where you can find the balloons this year, check out the list of events.

via – Yuma Sun