By Heather Madsen
August is here already, but don’t let the end of summer get you down! There are still plenty of activities going on while the warm weather holds out. So if you’re looking for a fun (and free) event to raise your spirits, don’t miss out on Sandy City’s Balloon Festival! The festival is hosted by Sandy’s Parks and Recreation department this coming Friday and Saturday and it has something for everyone to enjoy.
If you’re an early bird who likes watching the sunrise, then the Balloon Launch is perfect for you! On both August 12th and 13th, all of the participating balloons will gather at Storm Mountain Park and launch at sunrise. If you’re an extra-early bird, you can arrive even earlier and volunteer to help the pilots prepare for the launch. Getting a hot-air balloon into the sky is no simple feat, so extra hands are always appreciated. You’ll get to learn all about the process and see the balloons up close! Plus, if you have kids that you want to bring along, there’ll be a Balloon Fun tent set up with crafts and free helium balloons on Saturday morning.
If you’re more of a night owl, then your event of choice will be the Balloon Glow! The Glow will be on Saturday, August 13 at 7-11 p.m. at the Sandy Promenade. Bring the whole family and enjoy the live entertainment, food trucks, vendors, and of course the beautiful glowing balloons.
There will also be face painting and bounce houses for the kids, and a 5k for anyone who wants to register. Run in a loop from the Promenade through the RioTinto stadium and back, just when the temperature will be cooling down.
All in all, the Balloon Festival is a great and affordable way to celebrate another awesome Utah summer! More information can be found at sandy.utah.gov/518/Balloon-Festival