Dozens of colorful hot air balloons will drift over a tree-lined lake in what promises to provide a perfect setting for sightseers and photographers this coming weekend.
The 6th Annual Lake Red Rock Balloon Festival opens Friday night in south-central Iowa between Knoxville and Pella.
Kate Hoksbergen, with the Pella Convention & Visitors Bureau, says they’ll feature more than 30 hot air balloons.
“On Friday, at 6:30 is the opening balloon launch, weather permitting, and then throughout the evening, we also are featuring a band at North Overlook Beach and we’ll have a beer garden there.”
While the balloons will be taking off from different spots, she says they’re all going to be heading for the same targets.
“The balloons launch from various points around the area,” Hoksbergen says. “They can be launched from farms around the area but their goal is to, winds permitting, weather permitting, float over the dam and the lake. So, if you’re sitting there at North Overlook Beach, you can see them drift across.”
While most people are thrilled to see the spectacle pass overhead, some will want to climb aboard a gondola and see the sights from above.
“There will be rides available,” Hoksbergen says. “One of our balloon pilots offers rides and there is a fee for that, $200 for a ride up in a hot air balloon.”
Balloon launches are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 6:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.