International Arctic Balloon Festival

Balloons float like lollipops up in the sky.  They glow like jewels against the night. It's the International Arctic Balloon Festival!   

As winter is turning into spring in mid-February, balloon teams from around Europe gather in Levi to offer visitors an opportunity for rides, adventures, and visual enjoyment.

"The Glow" is a grand spectator event at most balloon festivals.  A night or twilight happening, the balloons are inflated and the burners turned on together or individually to produce a rhythmic dance of light upon the snow. The night I watched the glow, it was cold and foggy.  The jewel colors of the balloons reflected in the icy fog crystals around them.  

A hot air balloon ride above the Arctic landscape is the ultimate sight- seeing adventure.  Floating with the breeze high above the fields and forests, across the rivers and lakes, the peaceful ride provides a unique view of the Lappish countryside. 

Though the day was cold, it was comfortable in the basket. There was no wind because we were riding with it. Even the heat from the burner seemed to float with us.

Based on the winds that day, we drove out to near Rauhala. There we launched the balloon and flew east southeast to Levi.  Near Rauhala we had a magnificent view of Pallas fell.  Levitunturi was only a distant bump on the horizon.  We flew over forests and farms.  When we were low we could see a moose and even a fox. As we approached Levi, there were great scenes of Levi center, Katkatunturi and the slopes on Levitunturi. Finally we landed near the south slope where we all had our baptism ceremony with champagne.

While the balloon festival lasts only a week, Aerohot offers balloon rides around Levi during much of the winter and spring seasons.

Balloon Ride from Rauhala to Levi

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2009
Arctic Balloon Festival
during week 7  2009