Hot air balloons soar for annual Idaho rally

There won’t be 99 red balloons, but expect 15 hot air balloons in the heavens this weekend.

The 32nd annual Teton Valley Balloon Rally in Driggs, Idaho, starts early each morning today through Sunday, with balloons firing up for spectators and limited riders.

Evening events have been added in an effort to draw people who won’t get up early to go see balloons. The second annual Driggs Glow features glowing balloons set up in downtown Driggs as well as music, kids’ activities and an art walk. The idea  of the evening event is to appeal to a wider — and more awake — age range.

The festival will move to a different Teton Valley town each night for festivals featuring the balloons. Driggs, Victor and Tetonia will all be part of this year’s rally.

Events on the Fourth include a parade and balloon viewing and the Driggs Glow celebration. The party moves to Victor on Friday for a candlestick glow and block party including a pyrotechnics display, music, restaurant specials, poker run, sidewalk chalk art competition and a meet-and-greet with balloon pilots. Saturday will feature a pilot and sponsor appreciation dinner at the Teton Mountain View Lodge in Tetonia.

Organizer Virginia Powell Symons said youngsters enjoy the rally because, “Kids are certainly awed by the balloons.

“But I think my personal favorites are the adults who were dragged there by a child or other family member, but are then wowed by the experience of the balloons going up around them.”

The rally has had a turbulent past and almost deflated last year, attracting only six balloons, down from a high of more than 40 in the 1980s.

Balloons are coming from Oregon, New Mexico, Colorado, California, Arizona, Idaho and Wyoming.

See TetonValleyBalloonRally.com.

via – Jackson Hole Daily