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Telluride Balloon Festival 2013

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

Balloons, colors, majestic box canyon….oh my! What a stunning array of beauty visits Telluride, CO the first weekend of June each year. This was the festivals 29th year here!

The Telluride Balloon Festival is SURE to impress kids, adults, pets…..everyone. I could not believe my eyes at the splendor. Of course my camera was at the ready to share the fun with you.

Are ya ready for lots ‘n lots of photos? Here goes….enjoy!

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

One of the best things about really living full time in Telluride, CO is that I get to go to all the festivals.

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

Used to be I would be only able to attend a few….as soon as I was about to leave town another great festival was on the calendar.

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

Such was the case with this magical Hot Air Balloon Festival. Usually, I would wait all year for my favorite festival, Mountain Film (Memorial Day weekend) & have to leave right before the balloons took flight over town.

It was always torture to leave my favorite place on Earth.

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

Not this year!

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

I am always up bright and early so it was no problem to head down to Town Park by 6:30am.

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

All the balloons are positioned around the park….ready to be blown up.

The balloon inflation is awesome!

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

 The fire and sounds as they inflate are spectacular.

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

They all come to life before your very eyes. Everyone stands in awe!

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.comTelluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

Once the balloons are filled with air they are taken to the baseball field.

They catch wind and take flight over our beautiful town.

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

This goofy balloon was one of my favorites.

That grin is hilarious! It was quite the character floating above town…

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

It’s amazing watching them pass right above our historic mining town. Notice the moon in these photos?

Another amazing sight!

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

People sipping coffee on their balconies and porches get quite the colorful, wake-up surprise!

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

Some of the balloons drift very close to the buildings.

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

They are all different shapes and sizes. Each one awe inspiring!

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

As a photographer I felt so honored to have the privilege to photograph them.

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

After the balloons leave town they float towards the Valley Floor.

Some balloons get detoured….

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

See that paraglider in the top left corner?

That person must have had quite the view! A different perspective…..that’s for certain!

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

The balloons are deflated in the Valley Floor.

But great news…..They come back to visit us in the evening!

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

At 8pm Telluriders line the streets to watch the tethered balloon inflation.

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

As the sun sets the balloons start to glow….

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

Together as a community we all oogle, chit chat and feel grateful to live in such a special place.

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

Have you ever been to a balloon festival?

Telluride, CO Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013 | AMAZING Family Travel | MarlaMeridith.com

Hope to see you some year at the Telluride Balloon Festival!

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~ Marla Meridith

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20 thoughts on “Telluride Balloon Festival 2013

  1. Gorgeous, Marla! When we lived in our first house in San Diego after moving here, it was overlooking a canyon and we saw tons of balloons, all the time. This post reminds me of that & I love it!

  2. So…I’ve been way, way behind on all of the blogs that I follow. I started following your blog quite awhile back, and now that I have revisited I’m feeling sloooooow that I’ve just made the connection that you are the Marla at church! I love your photography and how you make food look so beautiful. 🙂 I saw you out there taking pics of the balloons. It really is one of my favorite weekends of the year in Telluride.

    1. Hi Lisa….so glad you stopped by again for a visit!! Let’s chat next time I see ya at the chapel. I should be there tomorrow 🙂