Balloon glow

We have lived in Colorado Springs for 14 years and we've never gone down to the balloon fiesta that takes place at Memorial Park over Labor Day weekend every year.  (I don't know if it's really called a fiesta, but since I'm from Albuquerque where the largest balloon fiesta takes place, I call all large gatherings of balloons a fiesta.)

Last night we made our way down to the balloon glow.  We were surprised that they let people walk among the balloons as they were filling them.  We were feet away from these big propane burners.  I don't quite understand why these balloons don't catch on fire.

 This was my favorite balloon, but I don't remember it's name.

 

I have just one thing to say...this was amazingly beautiful, why have we waited 14 years to be there?

 This was my first chance to take night pictures with my camera without the flash.  I had to get the shutter speed, aperture, white balance, and ISO just right.  I did a pretty good job, but next year I definitely need to take my tripod along.  Some of the pictures are fuzzy because I had to slow down the shutter speed to get enough light.

See the balloon below in the background with the cowboy and horse?  I see that balloon almost every day on my way to work.  I assume it takes tourists on rides when the weather is nice.  Quite often I see it landing in the fields on the east side of town.

Being the daughter of forest ranger, I was disappointed that they didn't light up the Smokey Bear balloon.

 But Smokey himself was in the park.

It was a beautiful evening in Colorado Springs.  I plan to be at the balloon fiesta every year from now on.  Maybe next year I'll even get up early in the morning to go see the mass ascension.