The Great Reno Balloon Race
Free, and the best morning of the Reno year — up to a hundred balloons launching from Rancho San Rafael before dawn.
The 45th running. Admission is free, which is unusual for an event of this scale and is the reason it draws the crowds it does.
The thing to see is the Dawn Patrol — a handful of balloons launching in the dark, glowing from the burners, well before sunrise. It means being in the park at an unreasonable hour. It is worth it.
Parking fills early and the park is cold before dawn even in September. Layers, and get there earlier than feels sensible.
When things happen
- Gates and parking open around 4am.
- Dawn Patrol launches at about 5am — a handful of balloons lit from inside, in the dark. This is the thing to see.
- The mass ascension follows at roughly 6:45am, and the field is clear by mid-morning.
- Admission
- Free
- Dates
- 4 dates, Thursday, September 10 to Sunday, September 13