2007 Great Reno Balloon Race

Each year Reno hosts The Great Reno Balloon Race, a hot air balloon festival usually occurring in the first or second weekend in September. This year's races will occur September 7-9, 2007 at San Rafael Park, just a few blocks north of our house. It's quite a sight when the mass ascension occurs each day, when 100+ hot air balloons rise into the early morning sky. Just prior to first light, a handful of pilots take part in what's called "Dawn Patrol"--these pilots have special nighttime operating licenses that allow them to fly before first light, and when they do, it's magical. You would think there were enormous, multicolored lightning bugs flitting about in the still-dark sky. Here's a time lapse video of one of the mass ascensions from 2006. The balloon races are one of the very fun things that Reno hosts each year to challenge its casino city identity.