2020 marked the 30th annual Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival (CRC) in Yuma, Arizona.
History
The festival started in 1990. It was named “Colorado River Crossing” because the balloons crossed the river from Arizona into California. Crossing the Colorado has only happened once since we started attending in 1996.
When and where
This 35 balloon rally is always the weekend before the Thanksgiving holiday. All flights are limited to sunrise with Friday being media day. Saturday is sponsor day when the pilots fulfill their sponsor ride requirements and Sunday is crew day. The balloon glow is scheduled for Saturday evening.
The launch site has varied throughout the years but more recently has found its home at West Wetland Park. The balloon glow takes place at the Desert Sun Baseball Stadium with fireworks following the glow.
What makes this rally unique?
Flying the Yuma rally can be a little tricky. Yuma sits in the southwest corner of Arizona where Mexico is to the south and west. Additionally the wind typically blows to the south and frequently quickly.
Pilots can’t complain about the weather briefing though. The Yuma Proving Ground sends out a mobile weather station which provides up-to the minute wind readings every 100 feet.
Another challenge is that Yuma is the “Winter Lettuce Capital of the World”. Landing in lettuce is a big “NO”, unless you want to buy lots of lettuce. Even the harvested fields are not for landing. The furrows are laser leveled which is extremely expensive.
The Caballeros de Yuma, who run the event, work extremely hard to make the pilots welcome and well fed. A Santa Maria style tri-tip dinner follows the glow. The added benefit is that while the pilots are eating the spectators are leaving so the traffic has cleared out for us.
After flying, or watching the wind blow, on Sunday is a brunch to thank the sponsors, pilots and crew. Once again the Caballeros’ are cooking but this time it is a local favorite, Kammann sausage.
The balloon glow is a popular event with vendors and music as well as the balloons to entertain the crowds. Pilot built remote controlled balloons and tissue paper balloons built by the local school kids are frequently at the balloon glow events.
Photography Tips
The typical winds in Yuma take the balloons away from the launch area quickly. The balloons typically form one line for launch but each crew will be working at their own pace. The first balloon up will carry the US flag from the side of the basket.
Chasing the balloons will give more opportunities for photographs. The lettuce fields can be used as leading lines as seen in the image below.
The balloon glow offers lots of opportunities to get up close and spend time photographing.
What to do in the area
Places
Activities
- Imperial Sand Dunes for off-road activities
- Colorado river for boating activities
Dining
Downtown Yuma has a variety of restaurants and microbreweries. A trip south of the border into Mexico is also an option if you have your passport on hand.
Contact information and links
https://www.visityuma.com/things-to-do/
Spectator Information
Spectator admission to the morning launches or the glow is a donation of canned food to the Yuma Community Food Bank.
