Rise Up | Tourism

Rise Up Hot Air Balloon Festival; It's easy to see why this such a popular spring event in Southern Alberta. The festival was started back in 2021 by Willy Taillon & his wife in partnership with Our Collective Journey, a mental health & addictions non-for-profit. Early morning or sunset glow seeing multiple hot air balloons taking off is magical.

I've been trying to see this festival since its beginning & have coined myself a jinx. Every time I make the drive to Medicine Hat the weather would change & the flight would be cancelled. This year I planned to go Friday & knew when I woke up at 4:30am the wind was too strong. I had written off seeing the balloons this year. As you may tell from this photo series I managed to see them.

Despite working Sunday evening & only getting a few hours of sleep my partner & I drove to Medicine Hat in hopes of the balloons launching at 6am; on the way I checked into their Facebook live to see weather conditions & if they would take off. Luckily the were a go! After seeing all the balloons take off we grabbed some breakfast before heading back to Brooks. I feel beyond grateful to finally be able to experience this festival & cannot wait to attend again next year.

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