Monday, June 7, 2010

Color Carnival, Mellow Yellow, Ruby Tuesday / Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival, Temecula Valley, California USA

Click on photos to enlarge!
The Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival was this weekend.
My husband and I enjoyed the opening on Friday night with lots of music, food, wine and an after dark Balloon Glow event.
The "Mass Ascension" took place Saturday morning between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m.
We live about 70 miles away and arrived about 7:25, therefore missing the best part. 
Darn it...double darn it!
But, we did see a whole lot of balloons floating in the sky for an hour or so.
They were all over the valley...about 60 of them.
Some quite high and others not so high.

This guy looks tiny but he's just farther away.
The two large balloons are actually tethered to the ground and will only rise about 40-50 feet.

Those who want to experience a little elevation choose these 2 balloons rather than taking the "real deal!"
Apparently, it's a bit scary!
I don't know...I'm not about to find out.
I'll just enjoy watching and photographing them.

 These two are tethered.






 There were balloons everywhere we looked.


And the fire!  
What a pretty sight.



37 comments:

Chubskulit Rose said...

Wow, this is a nice event that I would love to see.

Horse Back Ride for MYM.

Lola said...

What a spectacular sight!

Wishing you a Happy Ruby Tuesday!

LOLA:)

PS Mine this week is HERE. Hope you can join me!

maryt/theteach said...

oh my Carolyn, I love such colorful balloons! Your colors are incredibly beautiful! Happy Ruby Tuesday! :)

Linnea said...

Terrific shots...very colorful indeed! It must have ben a fun time.

Joanne Olivieri said...

Spectacular shots and wine festivals are always so much fun.

fredamans said...

What a difference between day and night! Still lovely photos! I especially enjoy the alien hot air balloon.... groovy!

EG CameraGirl said...

What great fun all these balloons are!

Ralph said...

The size, brilliance, shapes and bold graphics make these a wonderful subject to watch and enjoy. Too many hills in CT for something a nice as this, but the expansive CA desert is perfect. Nice!

Carletta said...

These are wonderful!
I especially like the first one through the trees - unique perspective.
What great fun!

reg said...

These pics of the balloons are just perfection and man I wish I was there for this event

Unknown said...

Fantastic shots! Love them all but my favourite is the top one, it looks so unreal!

Tania said...

Wow! So many wonderful shots of these great balloons. Love the color and I wanna try:-)

Kim, USA said...

That's my wish to ride in a hot air ballon! ^_^ Love those lovely colors too. Happy Monday!


Blue Jar

MYM~Asiatic Lily

eileeninmd said...

Wow, they are all lovely photos of the balloons. I have always wanted to see a balloon festival. The closest I have around here is for the Preakness event.

Al said...

We have a balloon festival each Labor Day weekend here and I love to go and see it. I love your photos, and those of the balloon glow too. I think the balloon glow is my favorite part.

Carly said...

I love the color in your pictures! Must have bee amazing to see the balloons light up at night.

Jama said...

I love those brightly colored air balloon!

Verna Luga said...

how I wish i could ride one... lovely photos Carol...

Have a wonderful day ahead!
Joined Ruby Tuesday too HERE, See You!

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

Balloons rise—
who knows where they’ll go?
Adventure!

Mound of Gold

SandyCarlson said...

Your photos are spectacular. Looks like a wonderful event.

cai - weekdayphotos.com said...

Nice photos, lovly colors!

If your interested check out my new photo challenge website, www.weekdayphotos.com.
A new photo challenge evey week, check it out...its abit different from the others.

have a good one!

Annelie said...

WOW! I really love this! I would like to go up some day......
Your pictures are stunning!
Love them!

mari said...

Those balloons are beautiful. It must have been a rush to be that close to them. Although I live in CA, I was a bit embarrassed that I didn't know where Temecula is. Had to look it up on a map. I agree with Ralph - it's a good location for the event!

Unknown said...

Sensational!

Ma.links said...

Wow, great shots. Love to shoot hot air balloons.

A 2 Z said...

How exciting. I almost went but go too chicken just before! Thanks for sharing.

Anne-Marie

Snooze said...

beautifu balloon shots.

My Ruby Redness

Hootin Anni said...

That one with the alien face on it is kinda eerie!!!

Love the colors of 'em all.

My R T is "lady in red"...a portrait of my daughter. Come by and view her if you can find time, I'd love your visit!!

KMOYMAMA said...

I can easily guess how much you enjoyed taking pictures of hot air balloons. I just wanted to be there with my camera. Wonderful photos!

Ebie said...

I am glad you had all the fun! So many balloons to see, and the weather was cooperating too!

The reason why I did not go because I had to wake up early to catch the lift off, and we woke up early at 4 am for the 100 mile trip. Though we had fun last year.

Annie Jeffries said...

Well, this just about covers all the bases. Marvelous. I remember living in Southern Californa decades ago and seeing the balloons from Temecula Valley. Such an awesome sight. Good memory.

Kala said...

I have never been to a balloon festival. What colorful and beautiful images you've captured!

Lew said...

You had quite a colorful festival! Great shots in both posts of the hot air balloons.

Kathy said...

Your balloon pics are definitely a big hit. Sensational!

fini said...

Awesome!! What a day to enjoy!! Never ride it, didn't even see it in real life as we don't have such event here in my country! It looks fun, though :) I wish I can be there!!

Rick said...

Spectacular colours and great composition - must have been a blast!

Jeanne said...

I like your hot air balloon pictures too! Do you use actions or something to color them?

http://jeanneselep.blogspot.com/2010/07/hot-air-balloons.html