One of the cool things to do during the Freedom Festival, held in Provo Utah each year around July Fourth, is to attend the Balloon Launch and watch the hot air balloons as they lift off.
You have to get up early as the hot air balloons start to lift off at sunrise. It is very cool to walk along the field where the hot air balloons are laid out and see the burners fire as they blow hot air into the balloons. The process is very quick as all the balloons seem to rise into the air within 5-10 minutes.
The balloon pilots then participate in a contest where they guide their hot air balloons over the same field where they lifted off and they do a bean bag drop on a huge target for prizes. The interesting fact is that the balloon pilot doesn’t have any way to control the balloons other than up and down, so they adjust their altitude until they find the wind currents that will blow them the direction where they want to go.
Stock images of hot air balloons at the Provo Freedom Festival
Image of two hot air balloons that participate in the Freedom Festival Hot Air Balloon Launch. Image available at the following Stock Agencies:
Two hot air balloons bumping on takeoff at the Provo Freedom Festival. Image available at the following stock agencies:
Colorful hot air balloon from the Provo Freedom Festival. Image available from the following stock agencies:
Colorful hot air balloon from the Provo Freedom Festival. Image available from the following stock agencies:
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