City: Reno, NV

Category: Spectator Sports

Telephone: (775) 826-1181

Address: 330 East Liberty Street

Description: More than 100 hot-air balloons in all shapes and sizes, including panda bears, whiskey bottles, D-cell batteries, and Burger King Whoppers, fill the predawn skies over Reno’s Rancho San Rafael Park during The Great Reno Balloon Race. The event, usually held in September, draws a crowd of more than 130,000 over its four days. This free (both admission and parking) spectacular includes two types of balloon flying competition—a Hare and Hound race and various target drops. In the Hare and Hound race, one balloon launches early (the hare), and the other balloons (the hounds) try to follow the path of the first balloon. The hare lands in a safe area and plants a target. The hounds try to drop a marker closest to the center of the target from the air. The target drop–style of race has the pilots launching their balloons from a 1-mile radius outside the park. The balloonists navigate into the park where a target has been placed on the ground and attempt to place their markers closest to the center of the target from the air. On Saturday and Sunday of the event, balloonists launch the Dawn Patrol, a pre-sunrise liftoff. The balloons’ ascensions are usually choreographed to music, and it is a spectacular sight, with the balloons lighting up the dark sky. Only a few pilots worldwide are qualified to fly a Dawn Patrol, making the feat extra-special for spectators. During the events, spectators are welcome to walk through the park and to talk with flight crews and pilots as they fill their balloons with air. Most spectators bring picnic breakfasts, but an extensive concession area is always set up ready to cater to everyone’s needs.