Overview

• The 49th annual festival at Memorial Park expects more than 200,000 attendees and roughly 70 to 80 hot air balloons.
• Media-day flights on Friday were grounded by a low cloud ceiling, though some balloons inflated on the field.
• Saturday’s plan features a 5:15 a.m. park opening, a 6 a.m. drone show, a 7 a.m. liftoff if conditions allow, and an evening Balloon Glow with concerts.
• Launch criteria call for surface winds under about 8 mph, no rain or thunder, and at least five miles of visibility, with cloud cover assessed each morning.
• The National Weather Service in Pueblo notes a slight chance of early Saturday rain and afternoon thunderstorms, with dry 7 a.m. launch windows expected Sunday and Monday; parking opens at 5 a.m. on a first-come basis.