WASHINGTON CITY — The dawn of a chilly, 21-degree morning Friday was warmed and lit up by the fiery burners of more than 25 hot air balloons at Staheli Family Farm in Washington City.
Pilot Derek White turns up the blower of the Nemesis hot air balloon at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival at Staheli Family Farm, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
It was the start of the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival. The free event will continue through Saturday evening.
Coming out of trailers or the back of pick-ups looking like a large blanket that could fit in a linen closet, pilots used large fans to initially fill the cloth envelopes to about 70,000 cubic feet. Gas burners atop baskets attached by ropes to the envelopes then lifted the combined aircraft upright while bringing welcome warmth to onlookers dressed in layers.
Organized by the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce, the balloons will take to the sky again at 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning.
After the balloons land, a car show will be featured on the farm along with food trucks. The event moves on to Washington County Legacy Park in Hurricane with music, food and a balloon glow display after dark at 7 p.m.
Check out the photo gallery from Friday’s balloon launch.
Photo Gallery
Hot air balloons start filling the sky above Washginton City, Utah as part of the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Hot air balloons dominate the sky above the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival at Staheli Family Farm, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Attendees at a now-empty field watch the balloons sail away at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival at Staheli Family Farm, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Crew members start up the gas-powered fan that will help fill the Nemesis hot air balloon at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival at Staheli Family Farm, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Hot air balloons fly in the sky above Washginton City, Utah as part of the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Pilot Derek White snaps a picture of the Nemesis hot air balloon at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival at Staheli Family Farm, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
A look at the Confetti Pebbles hot air balloon at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
L-R: Tessa Stewart and Chrisy Bassett, volunteers and members of the Washington City Youth Council, help fill the envelope of the Confetti Pebbles hot air balloon at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Pilot Derek White takes a picture of a family inside the envelope of the Nemesis hot air balloon at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival at Staheli Family Farm, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Hot air balloons start filling the sky above Washginton City, Utah as part of the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Pilot Derek White turns up the blower of the Nemesis hot air balloon at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival at Staheli Family Farm, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Pilot Derek White turns up the blower of the Nemesis hot air balloon at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival at Staheli Family Farm, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
The colors of dawn will be followed shortly not only by the sun, but by hot air balloons at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival at Staheli Family Farm, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Balloon Meister Heather Watkins leads all the pilots in a conditions and weather briefing just before the launch of hot air balloons at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Balloon Meister Heather Watkins leads all the pilots in a conditions and weather briefing just before the launch of hot air balloons at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Pilot Heather Watkins powers up the burner of Confetti Pebbles. Watkins also served as the Balloon Meister — who is in charge of coordinating the balloons — at the Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
A peek inside the envelope of the Nemesis hot air balloon as it fills up at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Hot air balloons rise before lifting off at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival at Staheli Family Farm, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
A pilot listens to a conditions and weather briefing just before the launch of hot air balloons at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Hot air balloons start filling the sky above Washginton City, Utah as part of the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Hot air balloons blot out the sky at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival at Staheli Family Farm, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
View from just below hot air balloons launching into the sky at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival at Staheli Family Farm, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
A peek inside the envelope of the Confetti Pebbles hot air balloon as it fills up at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Volunteer holds up the cloth envelope of a hot air balloon filling with air at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival at Staheli Family Farm, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Hot air balloons rise before lifting off at the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival at Staheli Family Farm, Washington City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Attendee at the Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival snaps a photo as the envelope of a hot air balloon fills up, Washginton City, Utah, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Hot air balloons add other colors to the blue sky above Washginton City, Utah as part of the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Hot air balloons start filling the sky above Washginton City, Utah as part of the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Hot air balloons start filling the sky above Washginton City, Utah as part of the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival, Jan. 12, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
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