NH Hot Air Balloon Rides
Summer Balloning – New Hampshire Balloon Festivals
A hot air balloon ride is a not-to-be-missed experience! The thrill of being suspended hundreds of feet in the air in nothing more than a basket is one of the most unique experiences you can have, and no words can quite describe the sensation of weightlessness you feel while lifting off the ground and floating through the sky. Ask us about NH Hot Air Balloon Rides & Festivals or share your comments. To feature your business, contact us.
NH Hot Air Balloon Rides & Festivals
A hot air balloon ride is a not-to-be-missed experience! The thrill of being suspended hundreds of feet in the air in nothing more than a basket is one of the most unique experiences you can have, and no words can quite describe the sensation of weightlessness you feel while lifting off the ground and floating through the sky.
Climbing into a balloon basket can be rather tricky, as most baskets have very high walls and no doors. Most often, you will require the help of a large step stool and a lift from the ground crew. Being in a larger-than-life basket with the biggest balloon you’ve ever seen bobbing gently overhead will definitely change your perspective on size! The pilot then fires his burners for lift, and you have the vision of enormous flames, the sensation of incredible heat on your skin, and the deafening roar of the burners in your ears. Then, silence…. absolute and pure silence… as the basket lifts and you are overwhelmed with weightlessness and breath-taking landscapes.
Hot air balloon festivals are great family events, and many of the pilots attending these festivals will offer tethered rides to the public. New Hampshire is home to two annual balloon festivals during the summer months; the Hillsborough Balloon Festival in July and the Pittsfield Rotary Balloon Festival in August. In addition to the balloons, these events often offer regional performers, tractor pulls, artisans, fireworks, and parades, as well as a “Night Glow” – when all balloons are illuminated after sunset.
The rides at balloon festivals usually occur either early in the morning, shortly after dawn, or in the evening about three or four hours before sunset. Why? Because the wind is calmest at these times of the day, and calm winds are a necessity for a successful hot air balloon journey.
If you plan on attending a NH hot air balloon festival, be sure to arrive early. Watching the crews set up and inflate numerous balloons at the same time is quite a spectacle. The roar of inflator fans and burners and the sight of brightly colored orbs slowly expanding and rising off the ground is stunning, to say the least, and will delight adults and children alike.
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