GEORGE TOWN, Feb 24 — The fourth Hot Air Balloon Fiesta kicked off at Padang Polo here with 16 hot air balloons taking to the skies early this morning.
The annual event, which saw different hot air balloon designs displayed each year, lets visitors experience riding tethered hot air balloons in two sessions daily, at 7am or 6pm, today and tomorrow.
According to balloonist from Belgium, Benoit Lambert, the cool temperature and lower humidity in the mornings are the best conditions for hot air balloons to fly, even for tethered rides.
“The hot air balloons will not be able to fly if it rains, it’s too windy or there’s a thunderstorm,” he said.
Only tethered balloon rides are available during the fiesta where the hot air balloons will rise up to about 60 feet from the ground to overlook the field.
Apart from the tethered rides, there will be “Night Glow” shows at 9pm where 10 hot air balloons will be lighted up.
Several pre-events have been held in the lead-up to the fiesta including the launch of The Path where hand-painted small craft hot air balloons were string up like lanterns at the Butterworth Art Walk and Esplanade.
Four hot air balloons also took the skies to fly freely for about 20 minutes yesterday morning as a pre-event promotion.
Visitors will get to experience walking into a balloon envelope filled with cold air in its “cold inflation” activity during the fiesta.
As the hot air balloon activities are only relegated to early morning and late evening sessions, other activities such as arts and crafts workshops, paddle boat rides in an inflatable pool, reverse bungee jumping and a giant trampoline are available throughout the day.
The Hot Air Balloon Fiesta starts at 7am and ends at 9.30pm today and tomorrow.
Tickets, at RM50 each, to the tethered balloon rides are limited to the first 150 visitors per session.
