Up, Up and Away: Hot Air Balloon Festival in León, Mexico!
Tegucigalpa– Where the sky isn’t the limit; it’s just the beginning! The beautiful Mexican city of León is preparing to be the center of the universe—at least for those with a penchant for altitude and colorful aerostatic marvels. From November 15 to 18, approximately 200 hot air balloons will fill the air with more hues than a toddler’s crayon box, as the International Balloon Festival (FIC) takes off!
But hold your air pumps, folks! It’s not just a hot air ballooning extravaganza—no, no, no! We’ve got a lineup of musical stars that’s hotter than a sunbaked balloon. Get ready for the likes of urban music sensation J Balvin, electronic music giants Marshmello and Armin van Buuren, and the talented Mexican performer Julion Alvarez. I mean, if you’re gonna float, you might as well dance while you do it!
Now, it’s not every day you hear that a singer has a hot air balloon—let alone one with a name like ‘Escapology’. That’s right; it’s a figure owned by none other than Robbie Williams, who apparently decided that being famous on the ground simply wasn’t enough. And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to recreate a scene from a whimsical movie with characters like a Swiss cow, Captain Caveman, or even a Frankenstein balloon? Anyone else just want to dive into the candy house?
According to Escandra Salim, the mastermind behind this magnificent balloon bonanza, the festival attracts participation from 25 countries worldwide. It seems the only thing soaring higher than those balloons is expectation! They’re expecting around 400,000 attendees this year, which is a 2% increase over last year. I guess when it comes to hot air balloons, the more the merrier!
More Than Just Balloons
This festival isn’t just about watching people play with giant floating objects. Oh no, sir! You’ll be entertained from sunset to sun-up with “magical nights”, concerts featuring headlining artists, presentations of beloved youth series characters, and mind-blowing drone shows! Yes, if the air is too crowded with balloons for your taste, just look up and enjoy the show in the sky. It’s like a festival within a festival!
For those of you who truly want to immerse yourselves in the festival vibe, there’s camping! Imagine this: you and your family spending the night under the stars in one of three special themed areas. Just try not to float away in your sleep—unless you’ve prepared a proper tether to reality.
Tegucigalpa.- Some 200 hot air balloons will be at the International Balloon Festival (FIC) in the Mexican city of León, with guest artists such as urban music singer J Balvin, electronic music producers Marshmello and Armin van Buuren, and Mexican music performer Julion Alvarez.
Escandra Salim, director of the largest aerostatic festival in Mexico, revealed this Wednesday that the participating balloons come from 25 countries, including ‘Escapology’, a figure owned by singer Robbie Williams that will be in Mexico for the first time.
In addition to others that reproduce characters such as the Swiss cow, Captain Caveman, a candy house or Frankenstein, as explained in a press conference.
The International Balloon Festival (FIC) will take place from November 15 to 18.
“This year the festival offers incredible figures like ‘Candy House’, like Frankenstein, where we become children again, but also where our mood changes,” he said.
Salim explained that, as part of the night concerts, the presentation during the festival will be the only one that J Balvin performs in Mexico as part of the tour he will do in Latin America.
Yasmín Quirós, director of hospitality and tourism of León, stated that this year they expect close to 400,000 people during the three days, 2% more than the 2023 edition, thanks to the fact that the festival has established itself as one of the most important in the world. due to the level and number of balloon pilots it brings together.
“Today the International Balloon Festival is classified as one of the main ones worldwide with the hot-air station theme, it also allows us to have a different dynamic as a city,” he expressed.
In addition to the flight of hot air balloons, the festival offers ‘magical nights’, concerts with star artists, the presentation of figures from youth series, drone shows, morning concerts and gastronomic offerings.
The festival is held in the Metropolitan Park and in this edition it will once again have a camping section, where the public can spend the night in three special themed areas.
Details can be found on the festival’s website and social networks. EFE
