Spring is here and hot air balloons will soon be too!
The 2024 Winnemucca Balloon Festival is taking place May 17 to 19 with multiple opportunities to see some balloons on the ground and in the air. This year’s theme, Magic in the Sky, was inspired by a local student’s imagination.
“We actually had a school program where all the schools in the community had teachers had their students draw a picture and put out their design of what they think a hot air balloon should look like,” said Winnemucca Balloon Festival Founder Jeremy Crosby.
According to Crosby, there will be nine balloon pilots flying this year as well as multiple local craft merchandise vendors and food trucks to enjoy during the festival’s main event— the Humboldt Ford Glow Show, held at the Ralph Whitworth Recreation Complex.
“We’ll have probably well over 25 vendors out again and all the food trucks that we can possibly get out there,” said Crosby.
The Glow Show starts at 6 p.m. on May 17 but the balloons will light up around 8 p.m. when it gets dark and, weather depending, will wrap up at 9 p.m. The event is entirely free, but the Winnemucca Balloon Festival Committee asks that everyone bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Winnemucca Food Bank.
“Come out and enjoy and come out early,” said Crosby.
Around 50 volunteers are needed before the Glow Show begins in order to set up the balloons. Crosby said that the volunteers can really get to know the balloons and see how they work by volunteering.
“Because it takes four to five per balloon to get them and we have nine balloons, we need around 50 volunteers to be out there and to help,” he explained.
Other festivities will begin on Thurs. May 16 and Fri. 17 as the pilots and their balloons travel to the local and rural elementary schools to give students a chance to see the balloons up close and teach them how they work in preparation for the events.
Additionally, the pilots will be at the Humboldt County Library after school ends on the 16th, giving all students and families a chance to learn about hot air balloons.
On Sat. May 18 and Sun. May 19 balloons will be flying with launches from the Winnemucca Sports Complex beginning at 6 a.m. where volunteers are needed and families are welcome.
As always, the Festival Board wants to see all of the beautiful photos taken of the balloons throughout the weekend. Crosby said that up to five photos can be sent to winnemmuccaballoons@gmail.com.
“We’ve gotten some really incredible photos over the years,” said Crosby.
Crosby said that they are expecting well over 1,000 people to attend the Glow Show and the event has become even more popular than some of the large rodeos in Winnemucca.
Without the help of local sponsors the festival could not take place and In previous years, Western States Propane Winnemucca has donated over 400 gallons of propane for the Glow Show.
“We need to give big props to Western States because they donate all the propane for this balloon festival. We can’t do anything without our sponsors,” said Crosby.
Other sponsors Crosby said he would like to thank include: Winnemucca Convention Visitor Authority, Humboldt Ford, Lovelock Portrait, Studio of Winnemucca, Source Too Machine Inc., Stewart Title, Humboldt Museum, Vision West Realty, Desert Disposal, Dr. Grant, Grass Valley Auto Service LLC, Phillips Home Furnishings, Jeremy Keener DDS
Norcutt Family, Jeff Dawson for Justice of the Peace, Ask Alex, Kenner Concrete, Girl 2 Tattoo U, Snyder Plumbing, Humboldt Printers, LLC, Spare Time Bowling Center, Frames N’ Things, and Quality Inn Winnemucca - Model T Casino.
“We’re gonna start putting out the balloon pilot bios and stuff like that soon on our Facebook, so look out for those. We have a lot of returning pilots but we do have one new one this year from Elko,” said Crosby.