08/30/2026
🎈11 Days Until The Great Reno Balloon Race!🎈
Today's 45 Years, 45 Stories Feature: Gail M.
“My mother invited me to go to Reno with them for the 1987 Great Reno Balloon Race. It was myself, my parents, and my six children, ages 14, 12, 7, 5, and 1. We stayed in Sparks, NV. We woke up early to attend the first day. We watched the Dawn Patrol from a hillside nearby. Then, after donuts and cocoa, we walked out to the grassy field. It was a brisk morning with heavy dew on the grass as we walked out to the balloon launch area. We loved that we could walk out among the balloons as they were preparing to take off. This was our first time attending, but not our last. We came every year for 6 years, until I moved nearly two days driving east of Reno. Lots of great memories were made attending the Hot Air Balloon Race in Reno.”
Don't forget to share your Balloon Race story as part of 45 Years. 45 Stories. You could be featured during our livestream and on our social media throughout our 45th Anniversary celebration.
🎈 Your story is our story. Help us bring 45 years of Great Reno Balloon Race history to life. Submit your story using the link in the comments.
