Summer Balloon Fest!

[Chop249]

It starts tonight and goes thru Sunday! Saturday night they do a light the night thing from 8p-9p. Sounds awesome. Lets see everybody's pics. Here are a couple of links:

http://www.star-telegram.com/family_...ry/708137.html

http://www.summerballoonclassic.com/gpage5.html

[CaptainTom]

Thanks for the heads up.. I might go on down there. Anyone else care to meet up ??

[CBass]

would love to but its my b-day sat and i dont trust myself with a camera after drinking as much as i plan to lol.

[Chop249]

I'm going tomorrow with the wife and kids. We plan on getting there about 3:30 or 4. That ought to give us plenty of time to see all the static displays and then watch the mass ascension. Then we'll eat (out in the parking lot since you can't take any food or drinks in) before the light the night. This should be interesting, we just bought our 4y/o daughter a P&S of her very own. I'm sure I'll have PLENTY of pictures of hers to post. Maybe I'll get some pointers on how to teach her even. Who knows she might even be a savant. (Cross my fingers!)

[CaptainTom]

I just found out that some furniture will be delivered sometime "tomorrow afternoon or evening".. depending on the arrival time, I had planned to head down there. If not, I'll get there at dawn on Sunday, weather permitting.

Little kids see things that adults never notice. Can't wait to see the results.

[David_3]

Well I'm working tomorrow and the way things have been going lately, that means I may be working Sunday, too. If not, I might be able to make it Sunday afternoon/evening. But even that is questionable.

[Texasdave]

I am going to try and make it this evening. Not 100% sure but if I can change some things that I had planned, Ill be there.

[mmcaleer]

I am going today.

[Texasdave]

I am heading out there and will be out about 6:30 or so what about everyone else?

[3n-Out]

I'd like to see some shots of this event...Anyone?

[Chop249]

Holy cow!!!! We sat in the parking lot for about 1 1/2 hrs before we even tried to leave. Good thing I waited, I knew I needed gas when I got there but boy howdy we BARELY and I do MEAN BARELY made it to the closest gas station when we left. I'll try to post some of ours tomorrow or Monday. Too late and tired now.

[Texasdave]

I also will try and post tomorrow. Tom made the right decision to go Sunday morning. Wow was that a big crowd. I left a bit early and people were still coming in. Most of the Balloons were gone when I left.

[CaptainTom]

Tom is not going to make it Sunday morning.....
I was supposed to get a furniture delivery yesterday, and they called and said it was not coming today (Sun) morning..... Drat. I will will bet that a lot of Midlothians will be in church this morning.

[playbak]

I went Saturday night and got some good shots. They were running about an hour behind, so the "grand launch" consisted of four balloons taking off at intervals of about 5 minutes. The rest stuck around for the night glow portion. There were about 15 - 20 balloons in all. Four were REMAX and two were Curves. Bring a book as there's not much to do between the launch and the glow, with the glow being the best part.

There was a good sized crowd and there's only one two lane road into the airport, so if you're going tonight, try to be at least an hour ahead. It took me 20 minutes to get from 287 into the parking area. The parking area was a convenient walk and there were plenty of facilities.

The only tent of note was set up by NASA. I didn't brave the line for that. There were a couple of food stands and the rest were the typical company ad booths. There were really no static displays unless you consider a Piper Cub a thrill. They had a couple of old transports and that was about it.

I live in Garland, so it took me about an hour, door to parking. I would do it again because I ended up getting real close to the balloons. They let the crowd among the balloons during the night glow so I got some nice shots. They weren’t nearly as strict as I hear the Plano one is.

Parking is $5. Lemonade is $5. Entrance is free.

[dfw]

Awesome pictures playbak! Nice capture on the fire.