White Sands Balloon Festival lifts off in September: How to watch these beautiful balloons
The White Sands Balloon Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary and returns to the White Sands National Park and the Ed Brabson Balloon Park in Alamogordo, New Mexico next month.
The festival brings visitors and balloonists from all over southern New Mexico, Arizona and even Colorado, to enjoy two days of colorful balloon painted skies.
"The feel of the hundreds of people lining the dunes is amazing. To share that experience with them, to see them all happy and just enjoy the sight of the balloons above the dunes, it's great" said Jim Hoidahl.
Hoidahl, a balloonist for 25 years, owns a hot air balloon named Swirl that will be featured at the September event.
New Mexico, popular for hot air ballooning, is home to at least six major events. But unlike at other airshows, what sets White Sands apart is that visitors can get pretty close to the balloons to observe as they are inflated and prepared for lift off.
"It's exciting that it's so close," Hoidahl said.
David Chelgren, organizer for the White Sands festival, is expecting about 20 hot air balloonists. In past years, there have been as many as 30.
"I love ballooning events because people can just walk up to the balloon as they inflate and see the whole process close-up," Chelgren said.
The White Sands National Park at 19955 US Highway 70 West has hosted the balloon festival for the past 32 years with the exception of 2020 and 2021 due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ed Brabson Balloon Park at 223 Lavelle Road in Alamogordo hosts the balloons as they prepare for their departure on the final day of the festival.
Chelgren said launch times are estimated and there is no set time for landing because it's all dependent on what the weather is doing the day of the event. Times can be changed or canceled.
Estimated White Sands balloon launch times for Sept. 16 and 17 are as follows:
Launch time on Saturday, Sept. 16 at White Sand National Park is between 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.
The Balloon Glow at Ed Brabson Balloon Park on Saturday, Sept. 16 is 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Mass Asencion Launch on Sunday, Sept. 17 is slated for around 7 a.m.
Even with a smaller number of balloons than in previous years, Chelgren said he still expects a large visitor turnout. Chelgren said people love to gaze up at the skies. He is hopeful this season will be no different.
If you go
What: White Sands Balloon Festival
When: The weekend of Sept. 16-17
Where: White Sands National Park, 19955 US Highway 70 West & Ed Brabson Balloon Park
Admission: Free
Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on twitter at @Juan36Corr.
This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: White Sands Balloon Festival returns in September
