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| - Very underwhelming experience. Came on Sunday, maybe that was the problem, it seemed in a real wind down mode. I don't know if two balloons offering tethered rides warrant the pompous title of a "festival". I think the 6 am launch and the lighting on Friday and Saturday nights were a highlight, but by 12 pm Sunday the glamour wore off.
The big positive was the fact that kids got to experience going up in a hot air balloon at $10/head- unique experience and worth the trip across town.
However, everything else was just a typical carnival experience, having nothing to do with hot air balloons- rides, games and fried food. One of the rides took my kids about 20 minutes and at least 5 stops/restarts. First they weren't sitting exactly as they should, I think it had to do with weight distribution as they were the only ones on it, so the ride was stopped and restarted three times as more people got in and everyone had to be arranged just so. Additional stops to re-arrange and school the riders.
Of course, after 20 min of this stop and go circus on this high speed ride that goes in circle, my 11 YO turned green and promptly threw up upon exiting. What a mess.
All in all, check the schedule and either go for launch at 6 am or night ceremony on Friday/Saturday. Otherwise it's just a carnival.
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