The La Balooza Hot Air Balloon Festival rose into action on Friday and continues Saturday at the Gainesville Raceway. (Photo by Megan V. Winslow)
Photo by Megan V. Winslow
The La Balooza Hot Air Balloon Festival inflated into action on Friday and concludes on Saturday at the Gainesville Raceway.
The annual event – which opens its gates at 5 p.m. – includes rides on a tethered hot air balloon, vendor markets, live music, magicians, roaming entertainers and a kids zone. Balloon rides are not guaranteed as they are weather permitting.
The evening brings a Night Glow and Laser Show that features hot air balloons, high-powered lasers and pyrotechnics that are synchronized to music with shows at 7 and 10 p.m.
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C.J. Gish is the senior editor for Mainstreet Daily News. He is a Pacific Northwest transplant who grew up in Oregon and moved to Florida in 2018. C.J. has spent more than 30 years in media, public relations and marketing, including stints as a newspaper reporter, working at two TV stations (FOX and ABC) in Boise, and as a media specialist for Eastern Oregon University. C.J. enjoys sports, especially the NFL and NBA, and is the father to three amazing adult children.
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You did not miss anything special. We spent $140 and saw no laser show, or any hot air balloons go up. They did not waste any time taking the balloons down when a few raindrops came down. If you want to really go next time, buy the ticket at the gate. There were no lines.
Sibet Grantham
1 year ago
Great expressive photos of a colorful event. Thanks
Maybe not Mainstreet News goal, but it would have been nice to read about this before the event. Too late to go now.
You did not miss anything special. We spent $140 and saw no laser show, or any hot air balloons go up. They did not waste any time taking the balloons down when a few raindrops came down. If you want to really go next time, buy the ticket at the gate. There were no lines.
Great expressive photos of a colorful event. Thanks