Hot Air Balloon Glow – Poteau Balloon Festival

The annual Poteau OK Balloon Festival was held on Halloween, and I attended to shoot the spectacle.  The photos here were taken during what is called a “balloon glow”.  A hot air balloon glow is when the balloons are set up and inflated at night or dusk, and the pilots light the inside of the balloon with the propane burner used to create the hot air that causes the balloons to fly.  The flames from the burner cause the colorful balloon envelopes to glow in the dark.  The balloons due not actually take off, so the pilots can only run the burner for a short time and then let it cool down to keep from lifting off.  The events now known as “balloon glows” were invented in Albuquerque in 1979, when local pilots inflated balloons on Christmas Eve night as a “thank you” to local residents.

Correction:  I received the following coment from Frank Capps.

“Not that it matters very much, but the Balloon Glow was “invented” by Dr. Bill Bussey in Longview, Texas at the Great Texas Balloon Race over 30 years ago.  It was done at the Longview Mall.  The mall still is a major contributor to the event and still sponsors the Balloon Glow. Albuquerque did not start their own Glow until the mid-80′s. I participated in the first Glow at the Balloon Fiesta.”

Thanks for the correct information.

Greg

Related posts:

1. Arkansas Hot Air Balloon State Championship
2. Poteau Balloon Fest – Tips for Better Photos