Havasu Balloon Festival

[ToMorrow44]

I’ve always wanted to go and I’m going to be in PHX for work that week, so wanted to check it out. Who’s got the tips and tricks? Looks like tickets to go up in a balloon is first come first serve starting at 6am? Is it one of those things that you better be in line at 6am to get tickets? What else should I know?

 

[Bpracing1127]

Pray for no wind otherwise you won’t see much

 

[ultra26shadow]

I’ve always wanted to go and I’m going to be in PHX for work that week, so wanted to check it out. Who’s got the tips and tricks? Looks like tickets to go up in a balloon is first come first serve starting at 6am? Is it one of those things that you better be in line at 6am to get tickets? What else should I know?

Honestly check the weather before. We usually walk the channel in the morning and you can see all of them take off and they do a water touch in the channel. I liked it better when it was at the nautical. Last couple of years it has been hit or miss with the wind. You won’t have to rush to get tickets. They open early for the morning mass ascension.

 

[Mikes56]

We went the last 2 years and it was blown out both years. Only one day each year the balloons were able to go up.

It’s spectacular, so go if you have a chance.

 

[teded]

Got a camp spot in the parking lot right next to the balloon field a few years ago.
Had a great time.

 

[HNL2LHC]

Been in town a few years. last year was a blow out on the weekend. But Thursday was epic. We traveled the morning around town and found many balloons even ones landing in the middle of the havasu roads. It was great. I want to launch and hang in the channel hoping for images of the balloons touching down in the water. I think someone was able to make that happen last year. Bottom line watch the weather if the wind is blowing even a little it will limit the number that take off.

 

[JB in so cal]

7 or 8 years ago when the fest was still on the golf course, a balloon pilof saved him and his passengers from heading over the lake by setting down in an intersection at Islander. Nailed an air stream trailer a little before he hit black top.

 

[HNL2LHC]

 

[ToMorrow44]

Thanks all!

 

[crzy2bealive]

Always gets blown out for the Saturday and Sunday ascension. I was tired of going and being disappointed.

 

[Havasu blue label]

It’s a blast always a fun weekend

 

[riverroyal]

Here's my tip. Save your money and milage.
It not great now that it's off the island.
Skipped the last 2 years after disappointment over and over.

 

[beerrun]

What are the dates

 

[HNL2LHC]

What are the dates

18th-21st

 

[DLC]

This was 5 + years ago

 

[Mini Kat]

My and some of my other friends always go up and fly around them and take pictures and stuff when they're all up kind of fun. This is just some shots from last year.

 

[ChumpChange]

Never done Havasu but Albuquerque is amazing.

 

[DWC]

We gave it a shot last year. Saw a few take off from Windsor. (Some dudes with big balls). Most took off from the other side of town. We drove around a bit and watched them land all over town.
Kinda a cool deal.
We’re going back out this weekend to check it out again. Hoping the wind stays down a bit and we get to see some action.

 

[LHC Kirby]

I wake up a bit after sunrise, check the Facebook page for the balloons. Lift off and I’ll start the coffee pot. Too windy, I go back to sleep.

I’ll be there Wednesday night to try and see Thursday morning launch. The nice part is it’s over by noon and I can tackle the winter to do list at the house.

 

[sprintcvx]

We're going to head into town for this. Our first time as well. We reserved an RV spot at Windsor lot 2a. Getting there Wednesday and the weather looks promising. We're dragging a car with us in case we have to chase the ballons around town.

 

[Ziggy]

Flying/floating by in them is a one of a kind experience. Nothing else like it.
My one flight started in Perris & ended in a Canyon Lake neighborhood. It was a spectacle, dozens of people watch us set down perfectly on an empty lot between two other homes.

 

[zhandfull]

Wife told me there were supposed to be a couple balloons testing or something this morning. Didn’t see any while I was out.

 

[Ziggy]

Wife told me there were supposed to be a couple balloons testing or something this morning. Didn’t see any while I was out.

All I saw was 2 baskets on trailers at the grass area in downtown.

 

[dezrtracer]

There was 4 up this morning at 8am one of them being my next door neighbor.

 

[zhandfull]

There was 4 up this morning at 8am one of them being my next door neighbor.

Rolled into town at 7:30. Must have missed them while unloading and screwing around.

 

[MeCasa16]

I hope the weather is just like today with no wind. I think we are going to launch the boat and hope to see some over the water

 

[jbird]

So far the weather is looking to cooperate


2022

 

[HNL2LHC]

Currently there are 6 up in th e air this morning….

 

[QC22]

I got this pic from an RDP member, @Wmc , who was on the bridge last year. The red Hallett is us.

 

[MonkeyButt70]

Great time. The best part is going early in the morning and watching them prep and launch.

 

[Ziggy]

Just read 4 people died over the weekend south of Phoenix in a balloon crash. 13 on board originally, 8 parachuted off it successfully as planned but shortly after the jump the balloon had a catastrophic failure and fell to the ground, one died on scene, 3 others succumbed to injuries at the hospital.

 

[FishSniper]

There were quite a few balloons up and more getting ready to launch this AM on the north side of town.

 

[Havasu blue label]

It’s a great event

 

[HNL2LHC]

Been watching the weather adn looks like this might be a good year for those on the fence. I know that I am planning to launch Friday and/or Saturday. Hope this is the year that we get the picture. @Wmc I hope that you are ready.

 

[ToMorrow44]

Weather looks great, I’m gonna come check it out! Be there Thursday afternoon, check out the balloons Friday morning. Thanks everyone!

 

[EarpRider]

We had a few of them land in our backyard this morning.

 

[RiverDave]

Had one land in the wash by my house.. very odd place to land.

 

[GPR721]

Bridge fly by from this morning.

 

[DWC]

Balloons are up.

 

[sprintcvx]

Balloons are up.

View attachment 1323987 View attachment 1323988

Yep. We can see them from here at Windsor RV lot. Wife is loving it but burned out early. We were there most of the day.

 

[HNL2LHC]

There were 5 up when we rolled into town. 20 minutes ago. Two were higher than Hunter Biden. Also looked like there were over the lake. Not sure where they are going to land….

 

[dezrtracer]

Here's a few pictures from the high school this morning that were there for the kids to see . Stopped counting at 20 up all over town from there .

 

[zhandfull]

Lets see if I can post short video.

 

[DWC]

There were 5 up when we rolled into town. 20 minutes ago. Two were higher than Hunter Biden. Also looked like there were over the lake. Not sure where they are going to land….

We saw those. At least 1 looked like it was a lost cause.

 

[H20 Toie]

Going to the channel in the morning to watch,

 

[EarpRider]

We saw those. At least 1 looked like it was a lost cause.

I saw that one also, it looked way over on the CA side of the lake.

 

[ToMorrow44]

Super cool yesterday afternoon. Gonna go watch the ascent here in a bit.

 

[MeCasa16]

What a morning to launch the boat and see them lift off.

 

[HNL2LHC]

What a morning to launch the boat and see them lift off. View attachment 1324132 View attachment 1324133

Yeah, the sun rise was incredible tokay. Looking forward to seeing how things unfold today….

 

[H20 Toie]