Set the alarm clocks for a very early wake-up time on Saturday, August 8 if you’d to see the awesome sight of hot air balloons launching over Lake Travis. The Central Texas Ballooning Association is hosting the 25th Annual Lake Travis Flight at Mansfield Dam Park. The balloons plan to launch at 6:45 a.m. (weather permitting). This event is free for spectators, and it usually draws quite a big crowd of people ready to “ooh and ahh” and snap photos.
Parking on the south side of the old Mansfield Dam road is free (but there is an entrance fee on the north side of Mansfield Dam Park). This is an informal event, and it’s best to have a go-with-the-flow attitude. (Wind conditions play an important part in event, of course, and if weather conditions aren’t just right, the balloons may not be able to take flight.) The balloons usually fly for about an hour. After the flight, the crews will return to the park, and you are welcome to stick around and visit with the balloonists.
When you arrive, please be mindful of where to park and set up your chairs and blankets because you’ll need to leave plenty of room on the grass for the balloons to layout and inflate (which takes about 15 to 20 minutes). If your children are sensitive to loud noises, be aware that the propane torches are really loud when inflating the balloons.
Be sure to check the Central Texas Ballooning Association website the night before for any updates regarding weather and estimated launch times.
Don’t forget your camera! It’s a beautiful sight!
Have fun!
This looks like fun! Do you have any idea how much the parking fee will be?
Parking is free at the event (southside), but there is an entrance fee at Mansfield Dam Park (northside) of $10 per vehicle or $3 per pedestrian/bicyclist. More info here–> https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/find-a-park/mansfield-dam
It’s free!. It’s the park above the Mansfield dam park not the park listed on the we link above. Instead turning left into the park drive straight head. Arrive early as parking will be hard to get. You can park on the side of the road and walk up to the event. Feel free to talk to the balloonist and their crew, they’re a fine and friendly folks. Just be mindful that once the balloon start to inflate the crew will be busy.
Thanks for the tips!
If interested in riding in a balloon who do we contact?
The Central Texas Ballooning Association website states that “most of the pilots already have passengers for the flight.” But you can always check out http://centraltexasballooning.org/ for more details or future flight info.
Join us after the ballon flight and paint your own. http://www.paintingwithatwist.com/events/viewevent.aspx?eventid=499923
#pwatlakeway #laketravisisback
How long will the fight be?
In past years, the balloons took off at sunrise and were in flight for about an hour before coming back. But as noted, it’s definitely a go-with-the-flow kind of event in regards to schedules and all.
Are drone’s allowed?
Here’s what it says on the Central Texas Ballooning Assoc. website: “Please keep the drones a safe distance from the envelopes.” http://centraltexasballooning.org/