There are many balloon festivals around this world. Some festivals are held for charity while others are held for fun. They also have many different lengths. Festivals can be 10 miles to 100 miles. They also can take many days.
The "River Festival" which is held near the Arkansas River is held at Wichita, Kansas. It is held on September 14 September 22. It is only 10 miles long.
The La Baie Park Festivals, held during August 31- September 3. It is held in Gatineau,Canada from dawn to dusk with hot air balloons flying all day. Different shapes and sizes were there including a dragon, the Swiss Milk Cow, a squirrel, the well known Humpty Dumpty potato chips character, a clown, a Pepsi can, a balloon surrounded by airships, the Bowater newspaper, the RONA L' entrepot beetle, the Yellow Pages directory, the Statue of Liberty, and many more!
The Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Festival is the largest ballooning event in the world. It happens every year and this year they had 800 balloons, 1200 pilots, media representatives and spectators from around the globe. It goes on nine days in October (October 5th-13th, at the Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque. Even though this balloon festival has been going for only 13 years, it has come a long way. It only started with 13 balloons and 10000 spectators. Now, nearly 900 colorful balloons and hundreds of thousands of spectators visit Balloon Fiesta Park during the Fiesta week. All around the world people participate in this and it airs in more than 50 countries.
The Napa Valley Balloons, Inc. and the Napa Valley Balloon Festival, which is held in Napa, California, begins at the crack of dawn. It only lasts for an hour. Whenever people land, they land at a fully catered brunch.
The Spirit of Centralia balloon festival in 2002 will be held on August 16, 17, and 18, in Centralia, Illinois. The balloon festival has many participators in it. Some of the major sponsors are Bank of America, Centralia Bank, Central States Coca Cola, City of Centralia, Community Trust Bank, and Country Insurance & Financial Service.
The Great Forest Park Balloon Race in St. Louis, Missouri has been going since 1976. This years date is September 14 September 16. Garry Haruska will be in the air in this festival with his favorite balloon, the Energizer Bunny.
The Plainville, Connecticut Balloon Festival will be held on August 24, 25, and 26, 2002. At this balloon festival they have: balloon races, firefighter challenges, fireworks, and car shows. This balloon festival used to be two days but has recently changed to three days.
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