Heather Hamilton-Post
8/1/2025
“We help them make memories they carry with them for a lifetime.”
Boise’s iconic hot air balloons take to the skies over Ann Morrison Park August 27-31 for the Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic, a free, family-friendly event and beloved Idaho tradition. Launched in 1991, the event gathers dozens of hot air balloons and their pilots together for five days of fun, including early morning balloon launches, an opportunity for kids to take a free tethered balloon ride, and a “Nite Glow Spectacular,” which illuminates the city in synchronized ascent. In the pre-dawn quiet, spectators can look forward to sudden bursts of flame, followed by choreographed liftoff, a display that is inevitably magic—a sky filled with color, a coffee in hand.
The event helped replace the Boise River Festival, first held in June of 1991, which included a hot air balloon rally that was widely celebrated in the community. Then, Kevin Godwin of Townsquare Media and Scott Spencer, an event producer who had worked on Boise River Festival Hot Air Balloon Rally, partnered to keep the balloons in the sky. Now called the Scott Spencer Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic in memory of Scott, the festival is in its 34th year and celebrates the imagination, vision, and energy of the original.
“When the River Festival went away, the balloons were the only signature event we kept going—it’s a gift to the community,” said Laurie Spencer. She herself is a balloon pilot and continues the event in honor of her late husband Scott and out of love for the Treasure Valley.
“The best part for me is when people who have years and years ago come to see the balloons bring their own kids and grandkids. We help them make memories they carry with them for a lifetime,” said Laurie.
Right now, 44 pilots are scheduled to lend their balloons to the skies. The balloons, which range from flags to elephants to multicolored patterns of all kinds, are as broad and eclectic as the people who live here. Some seek to advertise, while others encourage a sort of hypnotic meditation—a balloon for every type.
Balloons take to the skies, weather-permitting, around 7:15 a.m. and fly until around 9. Understandably, wind is often the determining consideration. Usually, it is one of the pilot’s jobs to assess conditions and ok, delay, or ground flights—in which case, they typically fly tethered to the ground, which still offers a stunning display.
Each year, professional and amateur photographers alike document the places the balloons land, which can include rooftops, busy roadways, and even the Capitol building lawn, though it is generally not the goal. Set against skies of every shade, the event is visually spectacular and an important tradition for the many people who call Idaho home—and those just visiting, too. This celebration of community, wonder, and the Idaho sky marks an unofficial end to summer, though the high temperatures persist. Whether it’s your first time or your fifteenth, an array of balloons floating skyward never ceases to add a certain thrill to your morning, so look up, breathe deep, and enjoy the ride.