Panguitch Balloon Festival!

Gideon Willard

Among the many great events hosted in Southern Utah, I believe Panguitch’s annual Balloon Festival is one of the best. Every year on the last Saturday of June, three dozen hot air balloons fill the morning sky as thousands of people watch the spectacle from below. In the evening, people gather all along main street for entertainment and food from vendors. Grounded, glowing hot air balloons also line the street in what’s known as “The Glow”. Growing up, I always looked forward to the Balloon Festival. It was a night of fantastic fun, always spent with friends and family and eating cotton candy, everything washed in a cozy glow from the balloons as the sky darkened. Although I now live in St. George, I lived in Panguitch for 13 years and still come every year for the Balloon Festival.

The effects of the festival extend beyond my personal nostalgia for it and all the fun I’ve had. It is one of Panguitch’s largest tourism boosters, drawing people in from all sorts of places. Local businesses and street vendors benefit every year from the enormous influx of people each year. This may help sustain them during slower parts of the year, ensuring the survival and even thriving of small businesses in the town. Besides that, the festival also helps promote unity among both residents of Panguitch and non-residents. Even though I now come every year as a visitor, I still enjoy talking with old friends and new ones.

I will always treasure the Balloon Festival for its role in helping me have an enjoyable childhood. It is one of my favorite memories growing up and is still very enjoyable.

Gideon Willard

Dixie High School