Hot air balloons come to Sarasota in Balloon Glow & Laser Show

The skyline of the city was a little higher on Dec. 6 and 7. 

The Balloon Glow & Laser Show had hot air balloons and kites hovering above the Sarasota Fairgrounds, giving attendees the chance to marvel at the display and also enjoy tethered hot air balloon rides. 

It may have been a rare sight in Sarasota, but there was still a community interested in the experience.  

Sarasota's Ken Junkins had crewed hot air balloons with his parents Alan and Betty Junkins in the late 1980s, while his godfather Chuck Beczk was a weather reporter for a balloon festival in Albuquerque for many years. 

"I loved ballooning, but I haven't done it in years, and I saw this opportunity and decided to come out and volunteer for it," he said. "It's a lot of fun."

The event, managed by a Georgia-based company, is most often held across the southern part of the country's east coast.

"Our primary mission is to bring balloon shows to areas where people don't normally see a lot of balloons," said Jeremy Kwaterski, its executive director. 

Kwaterski said one of the most popular parts of the show is the tethered balloon ride, which costs $35, in contrast to untethered rides, which he said can cost $400 to $500. 

Despite some initial challenges with high winds, conditions improved and the festival could offer over 1,000 tethered rides by the end. 

It also offered a chance for balloonists to showcase their passion. 

"I've always been fascinated by flight, and something about getting into a little airplane and closing myself in just never felt right," said Fred Vereb, operator of Gottafly.Fun. "I literally am fascinated with large, colorful objects. I just got fascinated with flying."