Cappadocia Balloon Festival: Shaped Balloons to Color the Sky

Thirty shaped hot air balloons from numerous countries will float over the fairy chimneys at the 7th Cappadocia Balloon Festival in Nevşehir.

Organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the festival will begin on July 30th and last for 4 days. Shaped balloons from Turkey as well as 9 other countries will participate in the event.

Thirty shaped hot air balloons from Turkey, the USA, France, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Brazil, Slovakia, Austria, and Poland will take off alongside the 156 hot air balloons that fly daily in the region.

Balloons designed in various shapes such as the Turkish flag, an octopus, an owl, a clown, a chick, a wolf, a duck, a parrot, a rocket, a heart, and the world will fly over the valleys covered with fairy chimneys every morning at sunrise throughout the event.

The shaped balloons, which will float in the sky during the day, will present a light show at Paşabağları Archaeological Site in the evening.

Festival coordinator Mehmet Halis Aydoğan stated that interest in the festival increases every year thanks to the promotional activities of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. He noted that participation requests are kept limited due to the high intensity of balloon flights in the region.

Aydoğan stated that preparations are in their final stage and that balloon pilots and crews from abroad have started entering Turkey:

"Balloon festivals are held in many parts of the world. There are events we could call major festivals in the USA, France, Belgium, and Mexico. Cappadocia's greatest feature is that it's an incredible geography where 156 balloons fly daily. The Cappadocia region is a destination where thousands of people come both to fly in balloons and to watch them. When we adorn these with special shaped balloons, it creates an incredible sight. This is our biggest feature that distinguishes us from all other festivals. Looking at Turkey, our biggest difference is our hospitality. Balloons already make an incredibly significant contribution to Cappadocia's brand value. The balloon festival is also valuable in terms of increasing this brand value, enhancing children's interaction with aviation and balloons during the summer holiday season when schools are closed, and making a small impression on their hearts. This year, there was particularly high demand from Europe, but we limited it to 30 balloons due to the continuous high intensity of our flights in the region."

Children's Dream to Meet the Sky

Aydoğan stated that the "Whale" shaped balloon designed by 6th-grade student Bengi Serra Kaya, who won first place in the "My Dream Balloon Design Competition" held among primary and secondary school students in the city, will also fly for the first time at the festival.

Aydoğan stated that the balloon would take to the sky with children at the festival, saying, "Our winning balloon has been specially produced and will make its maiden flight. Children have a great interest in the festival, and we want to move forward by further increasing this interaction."

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