The Big Sky Balloon Rally is a summertime favorite in Billings.

The 2024 hot air balloon rally is July 25 - 28 at Amend Park in Billings. This four-day event will bless the skies of Billings with around a dozen colorful balloons, launched each morning, typically before 7 AM.

Credit Michael Foth, TSM
Credit Michael Foth, TSM
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Would you like to volunteer?

Being a volunteer at the balloon rally provides an opportunity for locals to get an up-close balloon experience. No experience is necessary, other than the willingness to learn a few basics about how hot air balloons are launched.

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Some volunteers will also help follow the balloons on the ground, arriving at wherever the wind takes them to help pack up the balloon once it lands. Volunteers need to be at Amend Park by 5:30 AM and are typically done by 9 AM.

Checking the volunteer signup page on 7/17, around 80 volunteers are still needed for various slots during the balloon rally. See available slots and sign up HERE.

Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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Hot air balloons were the first form of human flight.

Hot air balloons have a rich history, beginning with the Montgolfier brothers in France. On June 4, 1783, they launched the first successful flight, lifting a sheep, a duck, and a rooster into the air. This pioneering event captivated the public and led to the first manned flight on November 21, 1783, with Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes.

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, hot air balloons were used for scientific research and military reconnaissance. Today, they are primarily used for recreation, offering breathtaking views and a sense of adventure, continuing to fascinate enthusiasts worldwide.

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