The Great Reno Balloon Race

 


Tomorrow marks the beginning of the event, but you could see the balloons in the air this morning.

This is the world's largest free hot-air ballooning event, and has been happening here since 1982.  Then there were only about 20 balloons, and now there are up to 100 each year.

Dawn Patrol is the light show in the early hours of the morning.


And then it's the race, which is really a race against the wind changing in Reno.

They place an X according to wind pattern some distance away, and the balloon passengers will drop a beanbag once they reach it.  The one closest to the center wins.  Many times though, the balloons drift off course, so the closest beanbag may be more than a mile away!


Smokey the Bear Balloon has been showing up since as long as I can remember.


In 2009, Brian Jones flew a hot-air replica of his helium balloon, Orbiter 3, which was the first balloon to fly around the world nonstop.


https://renoballoon.com/

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