Indianola Hot Air Balloon Festival 2009: Pictures & History

The Indianola Hot Air Balloon Festival, also known as the National Balloon Classic, will take place from July 31 to August 8, 2009 in Indianolis, Iowa.

The National Hot Air Balloon Championships, the first Indianola balloon festival, was held in 1969. After that, Indianola, which is known for its great flying conditions, became a center of hot air balloon culture.

Photos

Indianola IA had a hot air balloon flyover

see larger image

uploaded by Herkie

• 

  uploaded by Herkie | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Aplseed | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Aplseed | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Aplseed | add comment

• 

  uploaded by terri.seidl | add comment

• 

  uploaded by mel_bell27 | add comment

• 

  uploaded by mel_bell27 | add comment

• 

  uploaded by mel_bell27 | add comment

• 

  uploaded by mel_bell27 | add comment

• 

  uploaded by JasonCross | add comment

As early as 1972, booths at the National Hot Air Balloon Championships highlighted aspects of hot air balloon history. In 1973, the Balloon Federation of America decided to establish the National Balloon Museum in Indianola. Today, the museum is one of a handful around the world and contains exhibits chronicling 200 years of hot air balloon history.

Since then, the National Hot Air Balloon Championships have grown into a 9-day hot air balloon event in Indianola called the National Balloon Classic, which features balloon launches every morning and evening at 6:30am and 6:30pm.