Telluride Balloon Festival 2009
[click "Play" button to hear Eileen Burns' conversation with Balloonmeister, Peter Procopio]
by Eileen Burns
photo credit: Steve Cieciuch
Up, up and away: The 26th annual Telluride Balloon Festival flies this weekend, June 6th and 7th, with daily launches from Telluride's Town Park. Balloonmeister Peter Procopio and 15 of his colleagues will begin inflating their multi-colored hot air balloons at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Weather permitting, balloon pilots will launch around 7 a.m. and fly towards the Valley Floor, or wherever the wind may take them. “We’ve all had dreams of drifting along with the breeze,” stated Procopio. Although staying within the valley and keeping below 12,000 feet is challenging for the crew, Procopio admits that flying in Telluride is worth the effort. “The people are so inviting and the town is so beautiful, we look forward to coming back each year,” he explained.
A highlight of the festival is the main street Telluride Balloon Glo. To get a closer look at the beautiful designs of the participating balloons, you’ll want to gather with the locals on Colorado Avenue, Saturday evening, around 8:45 p.m. When the burners are lit, not only do the balloons light up the street, they also light up the beautiful historic buildings. It’s a sight to remember.