The Taiwan Balloon Fiesta, an annual summer extravaganza hosted by the island's eastern county of Taitung, has formally launched its 2012 edition on Friday, June 29. Featuring a total of 47 pilots and 21 hot air balloons from over 13 countries, the two-month festival is sure to attract hot air balloon lovers from all around the world to pay a special visit to the isle of Formosa.
From June 29 through September 2, visitors can expect to witness spectacular freestyle performances by experts from the United States, Canada, Switzerland, France, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Lithuania, Spain, Thailand, India, the Netherlands and Brazil. Not only will different balloon models be making their debut flights during the 2012 Taiwan Balloon Festival, many hot air balloon artists will also be offering special rides to lucky members of the audience.
For those who don't fancy an once-in-a-lifetime ride in the sky – simply due to acrophobia, perhaps – the Taitung event has more tricks up its sleeves. In terms of aerial performances, kite-flying and paragliding shows are guaranteed crowd-pleasers. In terms of ground-level entertainment, local vendors are fully stocked with mouthwatering night market snacks, handcrafted souvenirs and other interesting trinkets that pay tribute to Taiwan's unique blend of cultures and traditions. Moreover, the raw, untouched beauty of Luye Township, one of Taitung County's most ambient nature spots, should surely woo the hearts of even the stoniest of tourists.
It is the Night Glow Concert, however, that enjoys the reputation of being the festival's most anticipated performance. Extended to four sessions in comparison to last year's solo showing, the signature event features a unique blend of hot air balloons and rhythmic music that shall please both the audience's visual and auditory senses. The first session helped kick off the 2012 Taiwan Balloon Festival on June 29, but three more concerts are scheduled for July 26, August 8 and August 30, running from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm each.
The Taitung County government, the main organizer of this summer fiesta, has been quite successful in its recent hot air balloon endeavors. Among the first batch of hot air balloon pilots funded by the county government, five have already successfully received international certification, in which two have gone on to receive the highest level of commercial license from the United States. Furthermore, the island's only legally registered hot air balloons, codenamed B00001 and B00002, were purchased from Spain as part of the Taitung County government's efforts to enrich Taiwan's hot air balloon scene.
Whether you are intrigued by the clever titles of the likes of "Gone with the Wind" or "Out of the Blue," or simply seeking to learn more about Taitung's hot air balloon activities, look no further than http://tsn.taitung.gov.tw/balloontaiwan/.
Contacts:
Taitung County Government
Public Relations Section
Connie Wu,
+886-89-322390
Fax: +886-89-311179
costar276@gmail.com
http://tsn.taitung.gov.tw/balloontaiwan/
