20 REASONS TO CELEBRATE
This year we are celebrating 20 years of hosting the Hot Air Balloon Shoot-Out! We are celebrating in style. To celebrate the 20 years, we have invited 20 hot air balloon pilots to Carson City to battle it out for the championship. You will see some familiar balloons that have flown over Carson City for years as well as some that are making their debut flight here in town.
To help us celebrate our 20 year anniversary, we will be offering tethered flights throughout the weekend in West Park. This is a great opportunity for you to get a feel for what it is like to take flight.
HOT AIR BALLOON SHOOT OUT
There are many types of hot air balloon events held across the country, and internationally as well. We are very fortunate to be able to host the Hot Air Balloon Shoot-Out. This year will be the 20th annual competitive event. The event will take place on June 6th and 7th.
We will be hosting 20 hot air balloon pilots as we come together to celebrate what is great about ballooning. This group of visitors are a tight knit community that have welcomed many Carson City residents into their 'family' as crew members as well as future pilots. We extend a very warm welcome to our visitors and are looking forward to making more memories.
The evening balloon flights will launch from West Park (Fort Frontier). Make your way to the park and watch from either side of Fish Creek. There is not a bad seat in the park. You will get a great view of these balloons as they take flight and make their way through the skies above Carson. There will be a morning flight on Saturday. All of our pilots will meet for a weather and safety briefing, and then set off for launch sites throughout the surrounding area. Planning is critical for these flights. These are normally multiple task flights as they fly from target to target dropping a baggie in hopes of being the closest to target. It is amazing to watch the pilots maneuver their balloon toward the target.
Points are awarded to pilots according to how close a pilot's 'baggie' lands near the center of the 'X'. It is very important to remember that as spectators, everyone must stay at least 500 feet away from each target. Safety of our participants is extremely important.
Grab a lawn chair/blanket and head to the park in the evenings to watch and/or grab your cup of coffee in the morning and head to your porch or deck and enjoy the view of the beautiful balloons as they take flight. Make sure you look for your favorite. Give them a wave and a cheer of encouragement.
Light Up The Night Balloon Glow Encounter
On Friday and Saturday nights during the festival, there will be two events that you will not want to miss. We will be 'lighting up the night' at West Park (Fort Frontier) at dusk. The balloons will be returning after their evening flights to inflate and stand up their balloons. This time the balloons will not leave the ground. Balloons will be inflated and the pilots will stand up their balloons and use their burners to illuminate the envelopes to showcase their spectacular colors.
The Glow is a community favorite. This year we are changing things up with the Glow. This new version of the Glow will be nothing you have ever experienced. We will have the opportunity to open up the field to allow spectators to wander among the balloons. You will be able to get an up close look at at the balloons and chat with the pilots. You will also be able to collect a hot air balloon card (like a baseball card) from the pilots as well. This will happen as long as weather permits us to do so.
Make sure you have your camera read! It is going to be spectacular!!
* As always, all balloons events are subject to weather *

The Pilots

Pilot Shawn Raya
Bavarian Blast
Sponsor: Bavarian Inn Lodge

Pilot Steve Mitchell
Old Cat
Sponsors: Donohue Dentistry and

Pilot Chuck Walz
Yellow Bird
Sponsor:

Pilot Derrick Jones
Puddy Cat
Sponsor:

Pilot Larry Coan
Dark Horse
Sponsors: Lux Funeral Homes and Hammond Wholesale

Pilot Don 'DJ' Wertman
Viper
Sponsor: Gregg's Trucking

Pilot Steve Miller
Good Shephard
Sponsors: R.H. Wiles Sales and Sparks Pickle Co.

Pilot Travis Gauthier
Corn Nutz
Sponsor: ITC Holdings

Pilot Andy Gross
Wait For IIIt.....
Sponsor: CMS Internet

Pilot Janet Lutkus
Moonlight Sun-ata
Sponsor: Betty Kellenberger

Pilot Tom Brown
Tom Foolery
Sponsor: Gage Electric

Pilot James Mitchell
Hot Air Ohioo
Sponsors: Carson City Optics and Main Street Pizza

Pilot Tamara Jett
Stars Aligned
Sponsor: All Seasons Insurance

Pilot Jeff Knapp
Afterglow
Sponsor: Montcalm Community College

Pilot Brad Hosmer
Tarp Time
Sponsor: A Little Patch of Heaven

Pilot Eric Reeder
Mesmerized
Sponsors: Gabe's Garage and Barnes True Value Hardware

Pilot Tyler Jaques
Cutting Edge
Sponsor: Brian Fitzpatrick

Pilot Michael O'Brien
Coulda Been A Boat
Sponsors: Bruce & Linda Tasker and

Pilot Jeff Faber
Leap of Faith
Sponsor: M-57 Surplus

Pilot Lauren Hanson
Firebolt
Sponsor:
The Hot Air Balloon Shoot-Out Winners
2025 Winner

2024 Winner

Shawn Raya, Sullair
2023 Winner

Shawn Raya, Sullair
2022 Winner

Mark Enszer, Celebration
2021 Winner

no competition due to weather
2020 Winner

2019 Winner

no competition due to weather
2018 Winner

Rick Kerber, Michigan Cat
2017 Winner

Shawn Raya, Sullair
2016 Winner

Matt Haase, Sunny & 75
2015 Winner

Derrick Jones, Reflections
2014 Winner

Paul Petrehn, Stranded
2013 Winner

no competition due to weather
2012 Winner

no competition due to weather
2011 Winner

Jeff Pestun, Special Purpose
2010 Winner

Larry Coan, Superfluous
2009 Winner

no competition due to weather
2008 Winner

no competition due to weather
2007 Winner

Jim Birk, Who Cares
2006 Winner

Shawn Raya, Fast and Serious