Up, Up and Away Old West Balloon

With Nebraska’s historic Scotts Bluff in the background, about 30 hot air balloons launch shortly after sunrise. Filling the western sky with color and various shapes, balloon pilots from the Midwest and beyond participate in the annual Old West Balloon Fest Aug. 7-12. About 15,000 people attend the festivities.

Once part of the Old West Weekend community celebration, that festival ended after about 20 years. The name is now associated with a high school marching band competition during the fall.

Organizers revived the Old West Balloon Fest in 2015, growing it to a weeklong celebration of both hot air balloon flights and community activities. The area hosted the National Hot Air Ballooning Competition in 2019, 2021 and 2022. About 50 professional balloon pilots competed for national honors.

The Old West Balloon Fest returns to its roots in 2023, focusing on 30 pilots flying balloons across Nebraska’s panhandle, with views of Scotts Bluff, Chimney Rock and the Pine Ridge, as well as the state’s only national forest. The festival takes place in Scottsbluff, Gering and Mitchell. Balloons launch in a mass ascension shortly after sunrise Aug. 11-12 from Mitchell Airfield. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early, with free parking available at the airfield. New in 2023, Kids Balloon Camp Aug. 7-9 educates children 5-13 years old about aspects of hot air balloons, from the science of flying to its mechanics.

The Old West Balloon Fest kicks off with balloon action the evening of Aug. 9 with the initial hot air balloon glow. Hundreds of people gather on the campus of Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff 6-9 p.m. to enjoy music, games, vendors and food truck dining before the balloon glow starts soon after dusk. Rotating, pilots shoot a burst of hot air into their balloons creating a majestic view of colorful images in the night sky.

With the first mass ascension set for as early as 6:15 a.m. Aug. 11, gates open around 5:30 a.m. Visitors are encouraged to roam the parade grounds, watching up-close as crews prepare their balloons for launch. From rollout to ascension, it’s a fan-friendly environment as conversations take place. Sometimes, crews may need assistance and will look for volunteers.

Watching a balloon crew at work is an impressive experience. The way each team works together in a small space reveals the trust each pilot has with his or her team. Spreading the balloon flat on the ground, connecting the cables and rope, and then filling it with the gas, teams ready the hot air balloon for flight.

In the meantime, visitors traverse the grounds, moving from balloon to balloon, soaking in the