Stowe's Stoweflake Balloon Festival is an annual event put on by the Stoweflake Inn and Resort. The festival is usually held on a weekend in mid July. Balloon rides in July 2002 costs about $225.00. Don't be surprised to discover higher prices in future years.

A balloon ride is something that everyone should experience, at least once. The feeling of floating in a tiny basket is exhilerating. You can expect a ride to last between 30 and 90 minutes depending on wind and suitable landing places. The big enemy of ballooning is unsettled weather. If the wind aloft is not calm, the balloons will not go up, so be prepared for disappointments and check the weather before you book a ride. If your ride is scheduled for the morning, bring a sweater.

There are usually about 25 balloonists entered in the Stoweflake festival. The balloons go up at 6:30 am and 6:30 pm.

The best time to take pictures is in the early morning. You will find the colors of the balloons stand out well in the early morning sun. The 360 degree panorama on this page was taken on July 14th , 2002 at about 6:45 am. The panorama will start to pan shortly after it has completed loading into your browser.