It was a brisk 31 degrees on a beautiful Sunday morning when multicolored balloons filled the air above Mesquite, capping off the 14th annual Hot Air Balloon Festival last weekend.

The three-day event, sponsored by Mesquite Gaming and the Mesquite Resorts Association, is held on the fourth weekend in January every year. The festival starts on Friday with a 7:30 a.m. morning launch from the parking area of the CasaBlanca Hotel and Casino. Morning launches continue on Saturday and Sunday when the weather cooperates.

On Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m., the Mesquite nights light up with the Night Glow Candlestick Show. On the command of the MC of the show, the pilots hit the switch for the burners, and each balloon becomes a kaleidoscope of color.

This year, because of high winds, the balloons could not be inflated for the candlestick show, but each pilot still amazed the crowd of over 1,000 with blasts of propane. Indeed, everyone in the parking lot was entertained with the light and music show.

This year Bryan Hill, the balloon meister for the event, was one of 37 pilots who brought their balloons to Mesquite. These balloons cost over $20,000 each, and when the costs of the basket, the trailer and a truck are added in, each of these pilots can have over $100,000 invested in their “hobby.”

Christian Adderson, the assistant general manager for Mesquite Gaming, added that the festival could not happen without all the volunteers on the site during the three days of the festival. Adderson said the Mesquite Police Citizens Volunteer Patrol are part of over 75 volunteers who come out each year to make sure that the pilots, their crews and the community are safe.

An estimated crowd of over 5,000 people attended the event over the three days this year.

Mesquite Gaming and the Mesquite Resorts Association supplied the propane to all the pilots for their balloons, and Blackburn Propane was at the CasaBlanca, making sure everyone had what they needed.

Adderson said there is no cost to the community to enjoy either the balloon festivals or the car shows sponsored by the Resorts Association. The residents of Mesquite constantly support the gaming and resort industry in Virgin Valley, and these festivals are just one way the Resorts Association can say thank you for all the support.

Next year’s balloon festival is scheduled for January 22-24, 2027. Mark your calendars now. Balloons filling the skies of Virgin Valley are truly a sight to behold and something that shouldn’t be missed.