Carolina Balloon Fest
Oct. 21, 2023
Statesville, N.C.
Tethered hot air balloon rides are a surreal experience that one isn’t likely to soon forget. So I learned at my first visit to a big annual event in North Carolina, the Carolina Balloon Fest.
The 48th annual fest, one of the longest-running hot air balloon gatherings in the U.S. took place the weekend of Oct. 20 in Statesville, 40 miles north of Charlotte.
I found myself hovering 30 to 50 feet up in the air, being held up only by a wicker basket, and a pilot pushing propane flames. It landed me in a moment of “I can’t believe I’m actually doing this.”
For a first-timer like me, seeing a spectacular bird’s eye view of the festival grounds makes you realize the beauty of the surrounding environment from a different perspective.
We took turns going up in the hot air ballon. As a crew member kept it anchored to the ground, one guest was let on, another got off in an even exchange. Six people were allowed into the hot air balloon for the ride. Once we secured our spots in the basket, the pilot steered the balloon into the sky. I was fascinated by the warmth given off by the flames, and the size of the balloon itself. Hot air balloons can hold between 19,000 to 211,000 cubic feet of air and can be anywhere from 50 to 100 feet tall.
The art of ballooning has strong ties to the state of North Carolina and features a history that spans decades, thanks to Tracy Burns. He is regarded as one of the four founding fathers of modern hot air ballooning. He opened a balloon manufacturing business in the 1960s in Charlotte, and then moved the business to Iredell County in the 1970s.
The first BalloonFest was held there, in Statesville, in 1974. The annual volunteer-supported festival is a great source of pride for the surrounding community; US News and World report ranked it as one of the top 14 festivals in the world in 2022. In past years, the event has brought in between 20,000 – 40,000 people. Visitors are left with a renewed sense of adventure and a space to journey outside their normal routines.
Throughout the fest, buzz and excitement filled the air as visitors were ushered into a world of vibrant and intricately designed balloons, tasty food and brews, live entertainment, and craft booths. It solidified its place as one of the most interesting events held in North Carolina, despite occasional lengthy wait times and grounded balloons.
Several crowd-pleasing events were canceled due to the high winds, including the planned weekend flyovers, where pilots launch their balloons from select areas around Statesville and navigate the winds to fly over the festival. The same with one of the main events, in which pilots compete against each other to see who gets the closest to a target, with the most accuracy. The closer a pilot gets to a target, the more points they get.
The festival reached capacity on Saturday, forcing organizers to turn away many ticketholders. They were granted entrance to the festival on Sunday, but it did spark some understandable frustration.
Volunteers on Saturday directed traffic through long, unpaved roadways; people soon packed the grassy parking lots, bringing a wide range of items like blankets, chairs, and snacks. Visitors trekked to front gates for bag checks performed by law enforcement officers, and ticket confirmation.
The fest was about more than balloons. Vendors lined the entrance of the festival with handmade crafts and jewelry, artisanal soaps, and mugs and cups that came with a hint of humor. Attendees had their pick of souvenirs as artists eagerly welcomed visitors to their tents to discuss their creative process and show off some of their favorite pieces. Home Pest handed out bags, and Thompson Gas offered guests drink covers and stress balls. The NC Wine and Craft Tasting sat farther down, where guests sampled various blends. Inside a dedicated kids’ zone, youngsters could walk into the heart of a hot air balloon, get their faces painted, and go rock climbing.
All along the hillside, people secured their spots in hopes of catching the themed hot air balloons take flight in safe conditions. Even though none of them took to the skies because of unfavorable wind conditions, an enthusiastic crowd did get to see them take form. People watched in awe as the balloons inflated in place to emerge as a tiger, a unicorn, and Tony the Fire Dog, among other characters.
The day closed out with a performance by the Scottish band Albannach. The two vocalists kept the crowd engaged, while the drummers maintained a rhythm amplified by a bag piper and a Didgeridoo player. The band even accommodated the crowd’s enthusiasm for an encore.
The next festival will be held Oct. 18 – 20, 2024.
