SAFORD — Beginning Thursday, the skies of Graham County will be filled with color. . weather permitting.
The 3rd Annual Gila Valley Balloon Extravaganza will be held Thursday at approximately 7:00 a.m. in the clearing between Ruth Powell and Raf Nelson’s schools, weather permitting and the winds calm.
“We don’t fly above 8 km/h,” said Susan Lindsey of organizer AZ Air Ventures. “Balloons are too fast and have too much mass to land. So safety is always our number one concern.”
Twenty hot air balloonists from New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona visit the Gila Valley. In addition to flights every morning Thursday through Sunday, there are other events for the community.
There will also be a pair of evening lights, the first on Friday from 6-7pm in the Home Depot parking lot and the second on Saturday from 6-8:30pm at Safford Middle School. soccer field. Saturday Glow kicks in the new year with free tether rides, snow fun and hot air balloon drops.
The festival is also recruiting volunteers to serve as crews for the 20 participating balloons.
“No experience required. You just have to show up with responsibility and they’ll tell you what to do. Everyone is welcome. Chasing balloons is a lot of fun,” says Lindsay. I was.
Sponsors of this year’s Gila Valley Balloon Extravaganza include Advanced Air Systems, AZ Air Ventures, Boulevard Glass, City of Safford, Comfort Inn Thatcher, Copper Hills Dental, Paulette LeBlanc of EdSupport LLC, Tyson Riches of Edward Jones, Gila Valley Includes Tourism, Goodman Ag. , Griffin’s Propane, Hydra Pest Control, Ice King, Kempton Chevrolet, Matlock Gas, Optimal Health System, Safford Freeze, Thriftee Supermarket, Tom and Tracy Pursley Realtors Tierra Antigua, Tri-County Materials, Vining Funeral Home, Vista Recycling, Pollock’s Western Outfitters And Magic 100.7.
For more information, GilaValleyBalloons.com.
