The 18th annual Wild West Balloon Festival will be Friday-Sunday, Aug. 2-4, at Mentock Park.<\/p>\n
The festival begins Friday evening with a \u201cballoon glow,\u201d which organizer and pilot Jack Way describes as spectacular.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe balloons are anchored to the ground, and the burners make the envelopes glow like a giant light bulb,\u201d Way said. \u201cIt\u2019s great event for amateur and professional photographers.\u201d<\/p>\n
The balloons take off Saturday at sunrise about 6 a.m. The wind is most calm early, making it the safest time to fly, Way said. Weather permitting, the morning flights will be used for two competitions.<\/p>\n
The \u201cHound and Hare\u201d race involves a lead balloonist, the hare, dropping a target with other balloonists, the hounds, following and dropping a bean bag as close as possible to the target. The closest hound wins the competition.<\/p>\n
The \u201cPole Grab\u201d is the most challenging competition. Balloonists try to grab the banner atop a 35-foot pole placed downwind from the launch site.<\/p>\n
The rally is sponsored by area businesses, and Cody people serve as host families. Returning pilots often carry on relationships with a host and stay with the same family every year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe couldn\u2019t do this without our home-stays and sponsors,\u201d Way added.<\/p>\n
The festival began in 1996 \u2013 Cody\u2019s centennial and Buffalo Bill\u2019s 150th birthday \u2013 when the city decided to dedicate each month to a different event.<\/p>\n
As for the weekend\u2019s festivities, Way said it\u2019s much like the rally\u2019s relaxed feel.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes we end up on the other side of the river,\u201d Way said. \u201cWe\u2019ll go wherever the wind takes us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Balloons launch at sunrise Saturday and Sunday mornings, weather permitting. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early, if they would like be on a balloon\u2019s chase crew.<\/p>\n