I’ve been fortunate to attend a couple of hot air balloon festivals. If you haven’t been to one or seen a hot air balloon set up for a flight, it’s quite a process, as these images demonstrate. Balloons are mobile and often carried in or on the back of a van or truck. The whole thing is unpacked. The burner used to heat the air needs to be attached to the basket. Then a large fan with a gasoline motor blows air into the envelope (the balloon itself). ONece there is enough air in the envelope, the burner is lit and begins to heat the air. The balloon slowly goes from lying on the ground to verticle. Finally, hop in and away you go. Oh yeah, this group had to notify a local airbase so that they did not cause any alarm or conflict with flight plans.
Milford Street 
We have one festival every spring that we go to in Alabama. Your photos are wonderful, Chris. I didn’t realize about having to notify the air base. Our is in a field pretty out country, so I wonder if they can just…..go up? I love the photos inside the balloon–it’s huge!
I think if there’s no major air traffic, they can just launch. We don’t want Top Gun mistaking the balloon for bogies. I’m getting ready for the new Top Gun movie.
That really must be amazing to see.
It was pretty fun. You should look for it next year. It’s a bit of a drive but they have a whole festival around it with food trucks and music.
Oh your somide views are extra fun – esp. tHat second photo – and I have ridden in one twice – but ours were tannish and not the plethora of color you gave us here
Thank you. The balloons were really a variety of colors. Cheers.
And I like the synapse you gave about how they get lugged here – inflated and the heat…
Thank you.
It’s fascinating, Milford. Thank you for the photos. A friend wants to go on hot air balloon ride. She got me interested!
I’d love to go. They are expensive here in the US. A friend in Spain said the cost is about half there.
Oh, I didn’t know. We went to Spain two years ago.
I wouldn’t have known either but a friend told me.
I’ll check it out next time when we go to Europe.
Beautiful view! 👁👁🍃
Thank you so much. 😊
We have a balloon race in our city every year, with a “balloon glow” the night before. It’s so much fun to see how they light up the balloons!
A “race” must be fun to see. I’ve seen balloon glows and was sorry to miss the one with this festival. They are amazing. Cheers!
You really captured it from start to launch! We don’t have anything like that around here. I would stay on the ground and enjoy the show.
It is a good show on the ground also. Thank you. Cheers!
I enjoy hot air balloons very much. I went up in one and I know the process. I loved it!
Great post!
Thanks Nancy…I hope to ride in one someday. Cheers!
So pretty images Chris.. Lucky you 🌷
Great to see parts of the process! The pic with thean standing inside the balloon is awesome! Did you ever go up youself during those festivals or remained on the ground? After watching ‘Enduring Love’ I gave up on this particular idea. 😂
Thank you. My feet remained safely on the ground though I’d love to go up. It’s rather expensive to do so.