A year ago I was traveling through the southwest right about the time of the world famous Albuquerque International Balloon Festival. With as many as 700 colorful hot air balloons taking to the skies it is a big attraction for photographers and I was tempted to add it to my itinerary. However, I had also heard about the crowds, traffic jams, shortage of places to stay and all the other headaches you would expect with any event as big and widely known. I decided to pass.
This year I found a great substitute in the Montague Rotary Balloon Fair in northern California the third week of September. What it lacks in sheer volume of balloons it more than makes up for with a great setting in the Mt. Shasta Valley, friendly organizers and balloon teams, easy access, on sight camping, plentiful parking and minimal crowds. Spectators have access to the launching field and can walk among the balloons during the inflation and launch process, making this an easy photo op for anyone with a camera. Spectators can even volunteer to crew for a balloon team, helping them to inflate and launch as well as chase, land and pack their balloons.
This year about 30 balloons took part in the fair. While a far cry from 700, 30 balloons is still an impressive site and makes for an exhilarating visual and photographic experience. Montague is about seven miles east of Yreka, just off of Interstate 5 in northern California. Montague is less than an hour from where I live in southern Oregon. I was so enthralled photographing the balloons on Friday morning that I returned on Saturday and Sunday as well. I recommend this event to anyone, especially families.
For more information you can visit the balloon fair website at http://clubs.district5110.org/shastavalley/balloonfair/