Festival Of Color And Flight

By WESLIE STRATTON

Moapa Valley Progress

Brilliant colors dotted the sky over the Virgin Valley during the eighth annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Jan. 25-27. Thousands of people gathered at various viewpoints around the city each morning throughout the event to watch dozens of colorful balloons lift off from the Oasis parking lot and travel across the sky.

Hosted by CasaBlanca Resort and Casino, the event also featured evening entertainment including balloon night glows on Friday and Saturday night. Participants enjoyed milling around the enormous illuminated balloons, eating refreshments and dancing to music after the sun set.

Darlene Aurich traveled to Mesquite from Las Vegas with her five-year-old granddaughter Sofia to watch the balloon launch early on Saturday morning.
“She’s never seen them before,” Aurich said of her granddaughter. “We got up really early [to make the drive] because we couldn’t get a place to stay. Everything was full.”
Aurich pointed out various apparatus used by balloon pilots as they set up equipment prior to launching.
“This is fun to do this kind of thing,” she said.

Hot air balloon pilot Lyle Bingham traveled with his son from Payson, Utah to participate in the festival. This is the seventh Mesquite Balloon Festival he has flown in.
“I don’t think I was here the first time but I think I have been here every time since,” he said. “I like coming to this one when we can fly.”

Bingham started his hot air balloon hobby as part of a crew and purchased his own balloon 20 years ago to the dismay of his wife.
“She hates this thing,” he said with a laugh. “My kids, my daughter and my son, they’ll go with me.”

Bingham said he typically flies his balloon titled “Twister” once a month.
“Sometimes two or three times a month in the summer,” he added.

Mesquite Gaming Corporate Sales Manager Christian Adderson considered the event a success.
“The Mesquite Balloon Festival is one of the city’s most anticipated events of the year,” he said in a press release. “Each year, this family-friendly event attracts thousands of tourists to Mesquite. We’re grateful for all of the support from our volunteers and pilots.”