Balloons are back over Boise…

At least two dozen brightly colored hot-air balloons filled the sky over downtown Boise this morning, as the annual Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic kicked into gear. Yesterday’s launch was canceled due to high gusty winds 300 feet above the ground, but today’s conditions were a go. The balloons are scheduled to launch again both Saturday and Sunday mornings, weather permitting. And on Saturday at 8:15 p.m., a “Nite Glow” is set for Ann Morrison Park, where the balloons will all inflate and light up on the ground while live music plays. There’s more info here .

The annual hot-air balloon rally started with the Boise River Festival in 1991, and continued as a stand-alone event after the festival ended in 2002, except for a three-year hiatus from 2007 to 2009. Some years, more than 40 hot-air balloons float above Boise’s skyline.