It’ s easy to soak in all that Hot Springs has to offer. And there’ s no better place to rediscover the small town than at the Fall River Flight Fest.
Formerly known as the Fall River Hot Air Balloon Festival, Flight Fest is gliding into its 11th season, promising family-friendly free fun in the charming town of Hot Springs.
The Flight Fest is a place to make memories and is an opportunity to unwind after a busy summer season, experiencing the beauty and adventure the Southern Black Hills has to offer.
The name change reflects more of what the festival is: not just hot air balloons, but also sky divers, parachute drops and paragliding performances.
The magic in the skies begins early both Saturday and Sunday, with over 20 hot air balloons that launch from the Hot Springs Municipal Airport, weather permitting.
One of the coolest parts of the morning is the parachute drop, where hundreds of figurines connected to parachutes drop from the sky.
“ They look really cool,” says Amber Sierra, Executive Director of the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce. Children can keep the figurines, a reminder of the aweinspiring morning launch, and the colorful hot air balloons that captivate the sky.
So far this year there are 10 visiting pilots and six local pilots that will be flying, but there could be as many as 24 balloons total.
People can follow the Flight Fest on its social media page, which is also where you can learn more about each pilot and his or her balloon. Of course the festival allows people to meet and greet with pilots and learn more about balloon flight.
A new festival ballonmeister, who works on the flight path for all the balloons, considering the safety for everyone involved and ensuring compliance with strict air traffic rules, will determine the go or no-go for the balloon launch.
And while the balloon launch is weather dependent the balloon glow always takes place, even in some extreme windy conditions.
Last year jumpers did flips and rolls.“ They put on a really fun show,” Sierra says. myblackshillscountry. com Down Country Roads
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