Mike Olin bought his first hot air balloon after his dad’s death 1o years ago and named it “Heaven Sent.” He’s been flying ever since.
Olin attends between four and six balloon festivals a year. Since 2019, he’s participated in Pittsfield’s annual hot air balloon rally, hosted by the Suncook Valley Rotary Club.
“A lot of people think that ballooning is something you need to have on your bucket list. I think ballooning is something you should do every day,” said Olin, who will be this year’s “balloon meister,” in charge of monitoring conditions and organizing the pilots for flights.
The festival takes place this coming weekend at Drake Field. This year marks its 43rd anniversary and will include live music, a yoga session, Cow Chip Bingo, and, of course, hot air balloons.
Festivities begin on Friday afternoon with helicopter rides and balloon animals by Emmy award-winning balloon artist Joe Tombarello. That evening, hot air balloons will arrive at the field, and pilots will take off shortly after. Depending on weather conditions, flights will last anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour, with balloons reaching up to 3000 feet.
“We have 15 hot air balloons coming this year and pilots from all over New England and further that come to fly,” said Suncook Valley Rotary Club president Fallon Reed.
While the pilots fly the balloons as part of an air show, spectators can purchase a tethered ride that goes up to 75 feet in the air, weather permitting. According to Olin, the wind is much calmer at 75 feet. Since the balloon is still connected to the ground, tethering is considered a safer and more dependable version of the real flight experience. Olin anticipates good weather for the weekend, meaning flights should happen as anticipated
“I find it very peaceful,” Olin said. “It’s just floating over the world. I describe it as sailing in three dimensions.”
Saturday will begin with morning hot air balloon flights and a pancake and egg breakfast. Later in the day, festival goers can expect the yoga session, an “anything that floats” raft regatta race, a dog frisbee match, and a pilot meet and greet. Both Friday and Saturday will end with the hot air balloon “night glow” at dusk. Sunday morning will be the last hot air balloon flight.
If the winds are in their favor, viewers will witness the “Splash and Dash,” where the balloon baskets will touch the surface of the Suncook River, sail across and then take off at the other end.
After the flights, the festival will wind down with a game of Cow Chip Bingo. Depending on where a cow “drops their chip,” players could win $500, according to Reed.
While attending the festival is free, some of the amusements cost money.
“It’s built in over the years to essentially be a big fundraiser for us to be able to do projects in the communities that we serve… things to kind of help folks locally but also across the globe through Rotary International,” said Reed.
For people like Olin, the festival is a major community-building event — one that many look forward to attending well in advance.
“The entire community is behind the festival, and just everybody in Pittsfield really enjoys seeing the balloons,” said Olin. “It’s one of the major fundraisers for a small town in New Hampshire. I feel honored being able to help.”
The hot air balloon festival takes place from Friday, August 1 through Sunday, August 3. Drake Field is located at 17 Fayette St in Pittsfield. More information, including a complete calendar of events, can be found here.