Ballooning Magic

Story and Photos by Brianna Yates

As the sun stole its first peek over the ruffled ridgeline into the sea of trees below, the still morning awakened in a golden haze. The ambience of the almost foggy air brought about a feeling of comfort to all of us camped out, eagerly anticipating the morning’s events.

The crowd squished closer and closer together as it began growing faster and faster, signaling launch time was near. Excitement swelled as the balloons began to yawn and stretch and breathe their fiery breaths to wake up and greet their audience. Then all at once they jumped into the sky, splashing it with a prismatic array of color and a sense of home. I heard cheers all around me as I snapped pictures like a mad woman, trying to capture the essence of the moment, the spirit of Boise.

Living here my whole life, I have had the privilege of enjoying the annual Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic for as long as I can remember. Every year when I wake up and see the sky checkered with balloons, a wave of excitement washes over me. This five-day event happens at the end of the summer, when people are finding their way home from warm weather adventures and preparing for a bustling autumn. As a closing to the season, the event projects a quality much like homecoming, bringing the community together.