BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — The Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic is here.
The event started early Wednesday morning and continues through Sunday.
On Thursday morning, Ann Morrison Park will once again come to life with balloons, crowds, and more as people gear up for day two of the Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic.
Kids and parents from all over come out to Ann Morrison every year to witness the Boise tradition, which has been going on since 1991. And after having to cancel last year due to COVID-19, people are even more eager to get out and enjoy the fun this time around.
"It's very special to me to be able to do things like this with my family," Thomas Mills, a father, said. "It's one of the reasons we moved here to Boise. So I'm very excited about it, to be able to make these memories with my family."
Some memorable events will include a tribute launch to honor Spirit of Boise founder Scott Spencer, which will be at 7:10 a.m. on Friday. And of course, that day's hot air balloon launch, which will happen 10 minutes later. Even the kids get a chance to ride the balloons, while they're tethered to the ground.
We asked if it would be scary for them.
"I probably wouldn’t be, much," 10-year-old Beatriz Nascimento said. "Because we're hooked up but if I were to go totally in the sky without any ropes or anything I'd probably be scared."
"It's so magical I think for kids to experience this," Wal Ribeiro, a mother, said. "They love it every time. We're grateful for all the people that put up this experience."
And when it comes to which balloons are the best, well, some people just can't decide.
"My favorite one is that one and that one and that one and that one," Simon Weickum, an attendee at the event, said. "That one that one and that one. Those are my favorite ones."
It takes a lot of work to get these balloons up and running. And as if that wasn't enough, they're also taken down and hauled off at the end of each day, only to be brought back the following morning.
It's a process that will repeat for each of the five days of the event.
Things kick off at 7:20 a.m. Thursday morning when the pilots take the field for their first launch of the Balloon Classic.
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