Eyes on the Sky

If you’re looking for a fun, family event, you need only look to the sky! The annual Balloons Over Bend is quickly approaching, with the festivities kicking off Friday, July 24 and concluding Sunday, July 26.

“I think Balloons Over Bend is a magical event,” commented Julia Gilley, Event Director for Lay It Out Events.

“Honestly, it is a great family-friendly event,” added Gilley. “This year, we are adding more entertainment before the balloons start, and that is really good for the little ones. We’re hoping people will bring their families.”

The weekend starts with the first hot air balloon launch early Friday morning, July 24 at R.E. Jewell Elementary in Bend. Here families can experience the unfurling of the giant balloon, the setup process, inflation and finally, the launch, provided the weather—and wind—cooperate.

The hot air balloon celebration continues Friday evening with the Bend Night Glow from 5 to 10 p.m. at Central Oregon Community College. Inside the event, the little ones head to the COCC track for the Balloon Blast Kids Race at 6 p.m., which includes a kids-only obstacle course for three- to 10-year-olds.

Entertainment at the Night Glow includes the Flippenout Extreme Trampoline Show, featuring world-class athletes, and the Tri-City Steel Drum Band Association, a youth-led marimba and steel drum band from Washington. In addition, don’t miss the marketplace, with art and unique gifts from local businesses, makers and creators.

Once the sun sets, stay for the colorful Night Glow show where the inflated balloons remain stationary but come to life after dark.

Credit: Photo by Darrin Kling

If you can’t make the Night Glow in Bend, head to Redmond American Legion Park on Saturday evening for another night glow opportunity.

If you’re interested in watching the balloons fly, you’ll have to rise and shine early to make the daily balloon launches, which are free to watch Friday, Saturday and Sunday at sunrise. If you’ve always wanted to go for a hot air balloon ride, inquire about the limited number of balloon ride tickets from Lay It Out Events: info@layitoutevents.com

Local Bend event production company, Lay It Out Events, arranges and sets up everything surrounding the event—including the venue and entertainment, as well as the coordination with the pilots.

This is a unique opportunity with pilots coming from across the Pacific Northwest, according to Gilley. Some are hobbyists and some own their own hot air balloon companies.

Local balloonist and head pilot for the festival, Darren Kling, owns Big Sky Balloon Company, lives in Redmond and frequently takes passengers on local tours. Bigskyballoonco.com

According to Kling’s website, “Big Sky Balloon Co. was established in 1994 in the Flathead Valley of Montana. It was there that Darren began his ballooning journey that continues to this day in the colorful skies of Central Oregon and throughout the Pacific Northwest. After earning his commercial Lighter Than Air Certification, Darren started flying passengers on scenic flights near Glacier National Park and began building a corporate balloon program that now extends throughout the Pacific Northwest.”

Credit: Photo by pilot Johnny Oliver

“We do scenic flights, and those are about an hour in duration,” said Kling.

He launches from Redmond and flies over the Terrebonne, Culver, Powell Butte and surrounding areas, where according to Kling, the route is determined by wind direction. Children eight and up are welcome to fly, and there can be a maximum of eight guests per basket during a balloon flight.

Regarding the upcoming Balloons Over Bend festival, Kling commented that there are usually up to ten balloons that come from out of town. The pilots are from Northern California, the Willamette Valley, Washington State and some pilots even travel from Nevada.

“We do three morning launches, which happen Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Those are all from Jewell Elementary School in Bend,” added Kling. He commented that all balloon flights for the event take place at sunrise or shortly after, with the meeting time around 6 a.m..

“It’s about a three-hour experience altogether, with inflation and the flight itself—being about an hour. Then deflation and packing up and everything. By the time we get them shuttled back to the launch site, it is about three hours total time. Basically, my flights here, you get fantastic views of the central Cascade mountain range and everything in between, as far as the view goes.”

For folks who are afraid of heights, Kling had some reassuring words: “From my experience, from doing this for over 32 years, most people—even though afraid of heights —are very surprised at how calming it is. There isn’t really any sense of motion.”