Each June on Father’s Day weekend Quechee, Vermont (near Woodstock) hosts a three day hot air balloon festival and crafts show. About 30 hot air balloons take off Friday, Saturday and Sunday early morning right after sunrise and in the evening before sunset when the winds are low and the light is beautiful.
You can buy tickets for a hot air balloon ride or just taking in the sight of hot air balloons being filled with hot air and floating into the air, shop for some great local crafts or enjoy some food truck food and music in the beer tent.
Here are some videos of the hot air balloons being filled with hot air and lifting off into the air carrying their passengers. It’s nice to be able to get up close to the balloons, just stay alert as sometimes the wind can pull the balloons across the field. And of course don’t get in the way of the crews or ever step on the balloons when they are on the ground.
“The annual Quechee Hot Air Balloon, Craft & Music Festival, the longest running hot air balloon festival in New England. Don’t miss this exciting festival featuring up to 20 hot air balloons with five flights scheduled throughout the festival and additional tethered rides during the day. Enjoy continuous music and entertainment for all ages, and over 60 craft artisans and commercial vendors. Children’s activities Euro Bungee, a Rock Climbing wall, bounce house and more. And of course there will be festival food with local healthy options and a beer and wine garden, with more surprises on site!”
The sky fills with colorful, quiet, giant orbs piloted with nothing more then hot air and the thermals.
Riding the thermals the pilots can raise and lower the balloon to bring the balloon across the scenic landscape of Vermont and look for a landing spot for the champagne finish.
Filling a hot air balloon with a fan and propane jets to create the hot air for lift. The same technology used in the first hot air balloons invented in France – The hot air balloon is the first successful human-carrying flight technology. The first untethered manned hot air balloon flight was performed by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d’Arlandes on November 21, 1783, in Paris, France, in a balloon created by the Montgolfier brothers.
Old favorites return year after year as well as the occasional guest appearance and launch of new balloons.
Each balloonist has their own distinct pattern and colors.