37th Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival

By News Staff

Reporting by Mike LaCrosse

mlacrosse@abc6.com

A dozen colorful hot air balloons will be dotting the skit over South County into the weekend for the 37th Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival.

Yards and yards of red, white, and blue nylon coming to life with just a little hot air getting these balloons off the ground—taking only minutes.

"Everybody is sort of looking around at my fittings and connections and go, ‘oh my God we're up.’ You didn't even realize we left the ground,” said Bruce Byberg, longtime hot air balloon pilot.

Byberg is going on 15 years piloting the REMAX balloon. He loves every minute in the air.

The REMAX balloon will join 11 other balloons this year for the festival which kicks off Friday afternoon on the campus of URI and runs through Sunday.

The event features rides, food, fireworks, and a special balloon glow at dark.

The Wakefield Rotary took the festival airborne 37 years ago. "You know it's very important to us. This is a fundraiser for us. 100% of funds from this go directly to charities in our own community,” says Sean McIntyre, the Balloon Festival Chairman.

For pilots like Bruce, it’s a chance to take in the views and relax, despite being full of some hot air.

"Flying in a balloon is the greatest way to get from point A to point B… if you don't care where point B is,” says Byberg.

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