7th annual Mesquite Balloon Festival gets off the ground — PHOTOS
Seventh Annual Mesquite Balloon Festival Gets Off The Ground (Patrick Connolly/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
John Long of Henderson prepares his balloon "Flight Fantastic" near Casablanca Resort at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival in Mesquite on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Balloons dot the sky near Casablanca Resort at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival in Mesquite on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Balloons dot the sky near Casablanca Resort at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Tom Gough, center, and Candy Davis of Twin Falls, Idaho, pull the basket for "Gypsy Rover" out while an attendee watches near Casablanca Resort at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Spectators watch as Bryan Hill's "Basket Case" balloon is inflated near Casablanca Resort at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Lou Stern of St. George, Utah, third from right, helps to inflate "Basket Case" near Casablanca Resort at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Tom Oliver and Andrew Tyson attempt to hold down the balloon "Basket Case" before takeoff near Casablanca Resort at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Spectators watch as the balloon "Basket Case," piloted by Bryan Hill of Page, Arizona, prepares for takeoff near Casablanca Resort at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Bryan Hill of Page, Ariz., center, is flanked by volunteers as he prepares to take off in his balloon "Basket Case" near Casablanca Resort at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Bryan Hill of Page, Arizona, sits in his basket as he prepares to take off in his balloon "Basket Case" near Casablanca Resort at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Attendees take photos as balloons inflate near Casablanca Resort at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
John Long, left, and Jess Long, prepare their balloon "Flight Fantastic" for flight with the help of volunteer Jerry Reinhardt, center, near Casablanca Resort at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
John Long, right, and Jess Long, prepare their balloon "Flight Fantastic" for flight near Casablanca Resort at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Balloons inflate and prepare for flight near Casablanca Resort at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Balloons take off at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Balloons prepare for flight near Casablanca Resort at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
John Long, right, and Jess Long, center prepare their balloon "Flight Fantastic" with the help of Gwen Brewton, a volunteer, near Casablanca Resort at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Balloons fly over Mesquite at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
John Long looks over Mesquite during flight at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Balloons fly over Interstate 15 at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Balloons dot the sky over Mesquite during the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Balloons dot the sky over Mesquite during the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Balloons fly over Mesquite during the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Balloons dot the sky near Mesquite during the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Balloons dot the sky near Mesquite during the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Balloons fly over Mesquite at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
John Long and Jess Long put away their balloon with the help of volunteers and a Mesquite Police officer after landing in a wash at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Mesquite Police officers and other volunteers help to assist John and Jess Long after they landed their balloon in a wash at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Volunteers assist John Long in getting his basket over a barbed wire fence and up to Interstate 15 at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Balloon pilots and volunteers assist John Long in getting his basket over a barbed wire fence and up to Interstate 15 at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Balloon pilots and volunteers assist John Long in getting his basket over a barbed wire fence and up to Interstate 15 at the seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Updated January 26, 2018 - 4:46 pm
The seventh annual Mesquite Balloon Festival brought together hot-air balloon pilots and enthusiasts from eight states and Canada during its kickoff on Friday near the Casablanca Resort and Casino.
Over 3,000 people are expected to attend the event, which runs from Friday, Jan. 26 through Sunday, Jan. 28. The event is free and open to the public.
