Bluff Balloon Festival is a winter highlight in San Juan County

The 23rd annual Bluff Balloon Festival will be held this weekend from Friday to Sunday, January 14 to 16. Hundreds of participants and spectators are expected to visit Bluff for the annual hot air balloon festival. The festival features free viewings of colorful hot air balloons floating in blue skies each morning, with redrock all around. The festival is organized by the Business Owners of Bluff. After canceling the 2021 event due to COVID-19 concerns, the organization is implementing COVID-19 precautions for surrounding events.  In addition to asking visitors to wear a mask, the pilot’s briefing and the chili and ice cream socials will be held outdoors this year. Balloons are scheduled to take off around 8 a.m. each morning, weather permitting. The balloons will fly over Bluff on Friday and Saturday morning, and into the Valley of the Gods on Sunday morning. Other events for the weekend include the Saturday “glow-in” outside the Bluff Community Center. The glow-in features lit-up balloons that remain on the ground to provide light to the evening events. The social event includes live music from Neon Nativez as well as a chili and ice cream fundraiser held from 4 to 6 p.m.