Most folks don’t connect hot air balloons and winter, but up in Hudson, the Hot Air Affair has been combining the two since 1990. They now have the largest hot air balloon festival in the midwest.
Taking place February 3-5 this year, the festival celebrates the wonder of hot air balloons and includes a night parade and night glow of the balloons as well as a bunch of fun, silly and entertaining events to keep you busy all weekend.
Winter ballooning does require some extra care and attention, but they have launched when the thermometer has read well below zero.
The festival is actually a weekend of activities and the balloons are the focal point.
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Festival-goers can watch the balloons being prepared and inflated before they take off.
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There’s something so special about being able to get up close to the balloons. Plan to get up early one morning to see the balloons launch in a mass ascension and take over the Hudson sky.
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Then they launch and create an amazing sight against the winter backdrop.
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Whether you catch them floating high above the snow or you see them just as they take off and they look like they’re magically emerging from the ground, photographing hot air balloons is so much fun.
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The festival includes a ton of activities, from a 5K run to a kids’ ice fishing derby.
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On Friday night, be sure to stick around for the torchlight parade as balloonists use their torches to light the way.
Flickr/Andrew Iverson
From silly costumes to kazoo bands, this parade is all about being silly and celebrating together. It’s a can’t-miss part of the weekend. It’s also followed by fireworks.
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On Saturday night, the balloons will gather and inflate in the evening to form a gorgeous, glowing scene against the dark night sky.
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Safety is important, so all Hot Air Affair events are weather dependent.
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But you’ll not want to miss out on this one. Start making plans today to head up to Hudson and take part. You won’t regret it.
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Check out the Hot Air Affair website for a schedule of events and to learn more about this awesome Wisconsin winter festival
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Flickr/Andrew Iverson
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Have you ever been to the Hot Air Affair? Let us know what you thought in the comments!
Looking for more Wisconsin winter festivals? Check out 15 Winter Festivals In Wisconsin That Are Simply Unforgettable
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