We’re not blowing hot air here, but these 10 biggest hot air balloon festivals in the world definitely are.
I’ve never been in a hot air balloon and I don’t plan to ever in my life. It sounds absolutely terrifying to float in the air in a literal basket. I’m not interested in that being the way I die. It also reminds me of the Wizard of Oz, which I despise. I’m terrified of heights and also I can’t imagine it’s comfortable to be crammed into a little basket in the air. I’ve heard the views are nice, but that’s what Google Images is for. I know they’re backed by science and everything, but I still don’t trust them, and honestly even watching a hot air balloon float through the air stresses me out. They’re cool, but I’m nervous about everything and I don’t want to watch a tragedy happen.
That being said, if you’re the kind of person who thinks hot air balloons are super cool and funky fresh, this list of the 10 biggest hot air balloon festivals in the world is definitely for you. Hot air balloons date back to 220-280 AD in China where they were used for military signaling purposes. Modern hot air balloons are mainly used for recreation and came to fruition in the late 1950s. The hotter the air gets, the lighter it becomes in relation to the air around it, which is how these balloons are lifted into the air along with a basket and passengers.
Festivals are full of creatively designed and playfully themed balloons that not only look amazing but are fun to fly (if you’re into that sort of thing). They make for great photo opportunities if you’re into having a nice Instagram aesthetic. To rank the biggest hot air balloon festivals, we took a look at Real Property Management and Balloon Events, among others, and took into consideration the size of the crowd that gathers for each. The festivals with the larger crowds flew to the top of the list. Festival enthusiasts can keep reading our list of the 10 Biggest Film Festivals in the World, but those who just want to know about hot air balloons should definitely keep reading here first: