Countdown to Lift Off -
Mancos Valley - Mesa Verde Country Balloon Festival
Takes Flight September 23 - 25
Take your fun to new heights this month in Mesa Verde Country. On September 23 - 25,
we'll be launching the
7th Annual Mancos Valley - Mesa Verde Country Balloon & Art Festival.
The desert landscape of Colorado's Four Corners region is the backdrop for a weekend
of art and awe-inspiring sights. Balloonists paint the sky every color of the rainbow
at dawn, while on terra firma musicians and fine artists showcase and share their
talents. A celebratory
Fiesta Dinner
is held on Saturday, September 24, which includes
music, dancing, and a silent auction.
More colorful than a space-shuttle launch, more climactic than New Year's Eve on Times
Square; this is one countdown you won't want to miss:
21 - Balloons, including many special shapes
3 - Spectacular Mass Ascensions
2 - Magical Balloon Glows
1 - Breathtaking Fall Weekend
0 - Dollars -- It's Free!
If you've never witnessed a mass ascension, you're in for a treat.
Three mass ascensions are scheduled
(weather permitting) at 7:00 AM each day. With the help of
their crews, balloon pilots lift off from one of two staging areas, filling the early
morning sky with a kaleidoscope of color. Have your camera ready for this can't miss
photo op.
Keep that camera handy for the balloon glows that take place on Friday and Sunday
nights at 7:15 PM. As the burner on the balloons is fired they "glow" like giant
lanterns. The effect is both spectacular and magical. Always a favorite, this event
never fails to charm and enchant kids of all ages.
But to really let your spirits soar, take a hot air balloon ride navigated by an
experienced pilot. Rides are available each morning during the mass ascensions
(weather permitting). As the ground sinks away, the vistas of
Mesa Verde Country
unfold including views of Mesa Verde National Park and the La Plata Mountains. Tethered
balloon rides are also available.
To learn more about the Mancos Valley - Mesa Verde Balloon Festival, order your free
Mesa Verde Country Travel Planner
today. In it we reveal all the places to stay, play and eat while you're here.
Harvest Happenings
Photo By: Barbara Grist
Fall in Mesa Verde Country announces its arrival with brilliant gold quaking leaves on
the hillsides and in the valleys. Autumn is a great time to enjoy perfect fall days
while celebrating the bounty of Mesa Verde Country.
Celebrate the bounty of autumn in Mesa Verde Country. Through October, pick your own
fruits and vegetables at our many farms and gardens. Our
U-Pick vendors
feature the best seasonal produce including apples, peaches and pumpkins.
Another way to celebrate the harvest is the Cortez Cultural Center's Pumpkin Festival
held on October 29. Games, food, crafts, contests and pumpkin painting are all part
of the event.
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