Kids Make the Most of Rain at Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic

How many Spirit of Boise Balloon Classics have you participated in?

Boise, Idaho is proud to host the 35th Anniversary of the Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic. Since 1991 Boise's sky has been covered with hot air balloons, and for many of us locals here it’s our little transition from summer to fall. Join us early Thursday morning for our first balloon take off or Friday evening for a late night balloon glow. The last day to watch these nostalgic balloons take off  will be Saturday morning.

Whether this is your first event or 35th you can expect our local vendors participating to keep the crowds fueled with coffee and food for these early morning meets and for those that didn’t bring a hoodie, fresh merch was being screen printed as well. For the next four days you can expect Ann Morrison Park to be filled with visitors from dusk to dawn. Over the years the Spirit of Boise has gotten international attention, where people from all over the world travel to Idaho to experience this beautiful tradition.

The previous year there were people from 12 different countries participating in this four day family-fun event.

Each year, the hot air balloons paint Boise’s sky with a sense of juvenility and wonder. And nothing captures that spirit quite like the excitement of wide-eyed children as they help kick off the Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic. Unfortunately, an early-morning thunderstorm rained on the parade for the kids who had been looking forward to the tethered rides. Lucky for us they kept a positive attitude and still enjoyed meeting the pilots and experiencing a “candlestick burn,” which is when pilots set up and ignited only the propane burners from their baskets on the ground without inflating the balloon fabric.

For those nearby, the baskets offered an up-close experience, as the warm roar of the burners could be heard and felt with every burst of flame. Many brave children rushed to these baskets for a chance to let off their own burst of flame, while some enjoyed watching from a distance or playing with their mini balloons from the Discovery Balloon Stand.

For thousands of locals and visitors, the event represents community and gives Boise a visual identity all its own. As the following days come we will be enlightened to look up at the sky and experience this event for miles outside of Ann Morrison. If you're lucky you might even get an unexpected basket land in your neighborhood as some of these landings are completely unexpected.

How many balloons will you see this year?