Hot Air Balloons: Up, Up & Away! The Story Behind the Hot Air Balloon Festival Travel Photo
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Hot air balloon festivals and fairs are popular in spring, summer and fall. It's a fun time to spend a day with family and friends, especially children.
Being a New Yorker, I decided to get my feet wet by attending a hot air balloon festival in my own state, rather than making a grand trip across the country. I wanted to know what to expect, take a simple day trip and see what the excitement was all about.
Years ago, we saw a post about the upcoming Hudson Valley Hot Air Balloon Festival then held at the Dutchess County Fair (the Fair wasn’t happening, that’s the name of the fairgrounds). On a whim, we decided to head on up there. It’s a good thing we chose a nearby festival because we were blown away. And this isn’t even one of the bigger balloon festivals.
First of all, anything past Westchester and Rockland Counties counts as upstate to those of us from the New York City/ Long Island area. We know that’s not really called upstate (that’s the regions much further north before you venture into Canada), but we figure if you cross a bridge, we’re upstate. It’s a whole different world, seemingly rural, but not really.
These counties know how to put on a good show for the upstate, rural experience: combining small town charming and quaint appeal where everyone seems to know one another with a certain smooth sophisticated manner . The festival we attended is decades old, so they know what they’re doing.
Tradition, sentimentality and budget are the main reasons why there was an old school feel to the festival that year. That’s a good thing. For some attendees, it brought back memories of their childhood, attending fairs and festivals with different themes. For younger participants, it’s a good lesson about history and seeing real objects, not created with Ai or even high-end technology. And, it’s a great example of what theme parks used to be when they were called amusement parks. So, if some of the booths, kiddie rides and exhibits seemed old, it’s because they were.
The year we attended the Hudson Valley Balloon Festival, it was held at the Dutchess County Fair grounds. There were many activities: games, food and drink vendors, activities for the kids and presentations. But the one thing that stood out for us was the one room schoolhouse. When I think of fairs and festivals, some favorite books, movies and TV series come to mind, particularly those that take place from 1900-1950. And one room schoolhouses peaked in the United States between those years.
It seems that one of the managers back in 2004 may have felt the same way decided that a one room schoolhouse would lend a nice touch to the fairgrounds. He wasn’t wrong. The problem was, where to find one. Well, he certainly deserves a shoutout, because he searched until he found one, which could not have been easy even though there was internet in 2004. But it wasn’t as efficient as it is now and I’m sure it was an interesting search. Well, the manager found one, in a small town called Pine Plains, New York, not far from the Massachusetts border, six hours away! He got it back to Rhinebeck, restored it and now you can visit it.
This particular schoolhouse was built in 1881 and abandoned by the 1940’s, which corresponds to the time period of the history of one room schoolhouses in the US. (By the way, the Pine Plains children attend their own central school district, and it has three schools.) Inside, you will find artifacts and exhibits of the eras.
The Hudson Valley Balloon festival has since moved since we were there. The link is below in our list of some balloon festivals in the United States, so check it so that you know where you’re going. The information stays up all year long on the website, even if the event has passed, so that you can plan for the next festival. And you will need to plan: entrance fees can be more than $25, you can bring a chair or blanket, but no outside food or drink (patronize the local vendors, please), know that the balloons only go up twice a day, etc. By the way, that part about modern technology meeting an old school event? Well, you have to buy the entry tickets online.
Since the festival is held in August, which can be very hot, even in “upstate” New York, they don’t want the heat to affect the wind, which can affect the balloons, so there’s usually only two launches, weather permitting: an early morning launch and one in the late afternoon/evening, about two hours before sundown.
The big question is can you ride in a balloon and did we? Yes and no. We were certainly not prepared to book a ride, so we did not do that. But yes, currently, you can make a reservation. I’m sure it’s an exciting experience. If I can bring my camera, or even a phone, I might give it a try! Below is a short list of hot air balloon festivals and fairs in the United States and our list of The NYC Traveler Tip for Your Hot Air Balloon Festival Trip:
Many demonstrations are combined with an annual festival or an outdoor fair. Some events are held in small towns, so that adds to the charm. In fact, if you plan it right, you can make a whole weekend out of it. Here are our NYC Traveler Tips for Your Trip:
Search for hot air balloons and narrow it down to the region you want.
Some festivals are in mountain areas and some are in states like Arizona or New Mexico.
Look for other places to visit so that you can make a little vacation out of it.
Or, if you happen to be in an area already, look for brochures and pamphlets. Talk to the locals or the hotel staff.
Bring a blanket or chairs, if allowed. Hot air balloon fairs can be an informal affair sometimes. If you're allowed, you may be able to bring a picnic lunch.
Some places may offer balloon rides: include that cost in your budget.
And while we're on the subject of budgets: don't forget to check out the cost of entry tickets and/or parking.
If you are cycling, there may be an option to park your bike: don't forget your locks.
While your looking at the websites, make sure you look at the FAQ about pets. Not every place will allow your animal, particularly if it is a fair that has animals or a small zoo.
Finally, don't forget an external battery for your phone or extra batteries for your camera and/or video camera. Put your tripod in the car in case it's allowed.
Get your binoculars and have fun!
The NYC Traveler Presents Tips for Your Trips
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All photos and videos created and copyrighted by Marcia Crayton, unless otherwise noted.
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