Canon City Balloon Classic gets off to windy start

An annual hot air balloon tradition got off to a windy start.

The annual Create Canon City Balloon Classic happened Saturday morning.

Kirby McAdams came from Oklahoma City to watch the balloons launch.

“We came for the balloon fest to get some pictures,” he said.

So did hundreds of other people, but Mother Nature had other plans.

Balloon Classic officials grounded the hot air balloons because of the wind and then the weather became too hot to launch the balloons.

“We only have a short window of time from sunup until the sun gets to a certain point in the sky and you can’t go up at that certain point in time,” organizer Robert Brown said.

The balloons didn’t go up, but that didn’t get pilot Hector Corominas down.

“I love it. I can fly all day by myself, but I like to share it with others and not everyone gets to see a balloon up close,” he said.

As for McAdams, he is just happy to see the balloons.

“Just getting to see them inflated is good enough for right now,” he said.

The balloon glows are set to happen at 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The balloon takeoffs are scheduled for 6 a.m. Sunday and Monday.

The event goes through Memorial Day.