Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival brings 60 hot air balloons to OWA on May 12
The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival returns to OWA in Foley, Alabama, May 12 to 14 for its 18th annual celebration.
This year, the festival will bring about 60 hot air balloons piloted by professionals to the Gulf Coast, and people can come out to greet pilots, take rides, enjoy activities and get a glimpse of the much-coveted balloon glows.
Admission to the festival is free and will get you access to most of the good stuff. You can get a VIP parking pass for $20, plus fees, to get closer parking. Tethered rides are also $20, plus fees, for adults and $15, plus fees, for kids.
The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival premiered in 2005 at the Foley Sports Complex in the wake of Hurricane Ivan. Baldwin County, which took the brunt of the storm, was scrambling to recuperate from its impact.
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Perfect weather for hot air balloons
The balloons will typically fly from around dawn until dusk. They are extremely weather dependent, only flying in perfect weather conditions with wind speeds of 7 miles per hour or less.
The balloon meister monitors weather conditions up until the scheduled flight time to ensure safety.
Variations of wind speeds at different altitudes, plus other weather conditions, all play a critical role in whether the balloons will fly that day. The final determination will be made at the scheduled time.
Tethered balloon rides
Tethered balloon rides are one of the biggest attractions of the festival. Riders can experience the joy of riding in one of the balloons that are tethered to the ground by a 50-foot rope.
The rides are limited by weight, but usually about two people can ride in a balloon at a time. The final decision is made by the pilot.
Balloon festival rules
The rules of the festival are pretty straightforward. Smoking, pets, drones and outside drinks are not permitted on the premise.
Three off-site shuttle locations will be available at Tanger Outlets, Liberty Church and Irwin Square. Park off-site and ride the shuttle for free to beat the traffic. Shuttles run from 2 to 11 p.m. Friday and from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday.
For the complete list of activities, visit gulfcoastballoonfestival.com/schedule.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: 18th celebration: Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival returns to OWA
