Reno to welcome back annual celebration

  • 2023-08-02
An exciting spectacle will be hosting its 2023 event in early September.

The Great Reno Balloon Race has run for 41 years, giving people of any age the chance to experience the beauty of a massive group of hot air balloons flying into the air. The launch takes place in the early morning each day, with festivities continuing for a few hours afterwards.

Before the sun rises, a display known as the “Glow Show” features lit up balloons moving across the dark sky. This is followed by Dawn Patrol, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Each day, a different singer performs the National Anthem just before the big ascension. On the first day, balloons made from tissue paper will also be released.

Balloon Boulevard is a market for attendees to browse during the event. Vendors sell a selection including trinkets, hand-crafted items, food, and artwork.

A VIP area contains drinks, food, and seating both outside and inside of a heated tent. Shuttles are available to bring VIPs there. Parking passes are $45. At the time of writing, both seats and parking passes for VIPs are unavailable for the Saturday. Pricing for tickets is found through the balloon race’s website, as well as a full schedule breakdown.

Attending the main event is free thanks to donations and VIP package buyers. The venue is the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. Flyer printing is commonly part of raising awareness of similar activities. The gates will open at 3:30 am, and each day will close out at 11:00 am. The experience will run from Friday, September 8 to Sunday, September 10.