This was NPS’s 2nd year here and Nikon’s first year as a corporate sponsor. The Balloon Festival is one of the most photographed events in the country. The first weekend drew record numbers of visitors. People come from all over the world to see this event – many staying for the entire 9 days of activities.
What you see below is just and hour and a half of the mass ascension that takes place each morning. Starting just after sunrise. The Nikon balloon above was first off the launch grounds carrying the flag to signal the start of the ascension.

I will simply let the photos below do the talking – 90 minutes of frenzy.