"Sharing The Dream Of Flight"

The hot air balloon festival, Autumn Aloft, is back after twenty years time out. In 1994 the popular festival was discontinued due to crowds and parking troubles causing angst with many residents living in the area. “The city has worked to minimize the impacts on neighborhoods, and to have a nice local event.” says Jenny Diersen who is working to make Autumn Aloft happen. The launching of the 18 balloons will take place at the North 40 Playing Fields behind Treasure Mountain Junior High School at 7:00-9:00 am this Saturday and Sunday. There will be lots of parking at the Eccles and the schools around it; plus parking at China Bridge in Historic Park City where you can take the bus.

“We are happy to share the dream of flight.” says Scott Spencer a hot air balloon pilot working to organize the event. Scott and Laurie Spencer are both pilots for Disney; Laurie is the only female pilot Disney has ever had. The event organizer Misha has worked with them to bring back Autumn Aloft. They are expecting about 2500 people to show up for the launching.

Local Pilot Dave is excited for the festival, he says he will work as a DJ during the event. Dave owns a hot air balloon business here in Park City, he says he isn’t sure how the festival will affect his business though he thinks it will bring tourists.

Many Park City residents look back on the festival with smiles and are thrilled with the idea of it coming back. Park City resident Alyson Watkin says “Autumn Aloft is part of what Park City used to be, when I saw a post about it on Facebook I was ecstatic.” She relates to us how much she used to look forward to the festival every year and was very disappointed when it came to an abrupt stop. 

Some more fun facts about hot air balloons:

1. It would take 657,000 gallons of coke to fill a hot air balloon.

2. Their Cocoa-Cola balloon was the only balloon allowed to fly over the 2001 Olympics in Salt Lake because of 9-11. 

3.If you see a long narrow balloon it is most likely a race balloon, race balloons are quicker and easier to maneuver up and down than the regular wide balloons.