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 18th annual competitive event. The event will begin the evening of June 2nd and conclude the morning of June 4th.
We will be hosting 16 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. The morning flights will be held in the early hours on Saturday and Sunday. 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 mornings 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
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. It will get you on your feet and singing along as our hot air balloon pilots 'LIGHT 'EM UP'
Make sure you have your camera read! It is going to be spectacular!!
* As always, all balloons events are subject to weather *
![Glow Night Glow Night](https://www.carsoncityfrontierdays.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Glow-Night.jpg)
The Pilots
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Pilot Shawn Raya
Sullair
Sponsor:Â Sullair
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Pilot Larry Coan
Dark Horse
Sponsors:Â Lux & Schnepp Funeral Home &Â Muffin Top Bakery & Deli
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Pilot DJ Wertman
Viper
Sponsor:Â Spicer Group, Inc
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Pilot Steve Miller
Good Shepherd
Sponsors:Â Choice One Insurance &Â R.H. Wiles Sales
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Pilot Derrick Jones
Puddy Cat
Sponsor:Â All Seasons Insurance
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Pilot Steve Mitchell
Old Cat
Sponsors:Â Clinton County Medical Center & Donohue Dentistry
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Pilot Joey Strutz
Patches O'Houlihan
Sponsor: Montcalm Community College
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Pilot Ben Leatherman
Beyond Time
Sponsor:Â Betty Kellenberger
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Pilot Travis Gauthier
Corn Nutz
Sponsor:Â ITC Holdings
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Pilot Andy Gross
Wait For It
Sponsor: CMS Internet
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Pilot Chuck Walz
Yellow Bird
Sponsors:Â Barnes True Value Hardware & Gabe's Garage
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Pilot MARK ENSZER
Celebration
Sponsor:Â Gage Electric LLC
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The Hot Air Balloon Shoot-Out Winners
2025 Winner
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Â
2024 Winner
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2023 Winner
![22310685 10214559776498341 4004921030797351904 N 22310685 10214559776498341 4004921030797351904 N](https://www.carsoncityfrontierdays.com/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/22310685_10214559776498341_4004921030797351904_n-circle.jpg)
Shawn Raya, Sullair
2022 Winner
![20031760 10155439898209463 8733423697080343496 N 20031760 10155439898209463 8733423697080343496 N](https://www.carsoncityfrontierdays.com/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/20031760_10155439898209463_8733423697080343496_n-circle.jpg)
Mark Enszer, Celebrations
2021 Winner
![screen shot 2023 10 03 at 3.27.25 pm screen shot 2023 10 03 at 3.27.25 pm](https://www.carsoncityfrontierdays.com/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Screen-Shot-2023-10-03-at-3.27.25-PM-circle.png)
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Â
2020 Winner
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2019 Winner
![screen shot 2023 10 03 at 3.27.25 pm screen shot 2023 10 03 at 3.27.25 pm](https://www.carsoncityfrontierdays.com/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Screen-Shot-2023-10-03-at-3.27.25-PM-circle.png)
2018 Winner
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Rick Kerber, Michigan Cat
2017 Winner
![22310685 10214559776498341 4004921030797351904 N 22310685 10214559776498341 4004921030797351904 N](https://www.carsoncityfrontierdays.com/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/22310685_10214559776498341_4004921030797351904_n-circle.jpg)
Shawn Raya, Sullair
Â
2016 Winner
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Matt Haase, Sunny & 75
2015 Winner
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Derrick Jones, Reflections
2014 Winner
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Shawn Raya, Sullair
2013 Winner
![38485075 10156451710234976 5382810670158839808 N 38485075 10156451710234976 5382810670158839808 N](https://www.carsoncityfrontierdays.com/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/38485075_10156451710234976_5382810670158839808_n-circle.jpg)
Rick Kerber, Michigan Cat
Â
2012 Winner
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2011 Winner
![screen shot 2023 10 03 at 3.27.25 pm screen shot 2023 10 03 at 3.27.25 pm](https://www.carsoncityfrontierdays.com/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Screen-Shot-2023-10-03-at-3.27.25-PM-circle.png)
2010 Winner
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Larry Coan, SuperfluousÂ
2009 Winner
![screen shot 2023 10 03 at 3.27.25 pm screen shot 2023 10 03 at 3.27.25 pm](https://www.carsoncityfrontierdays.com/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Screen-Shot-2023-10-03-at-3.27.25-PM-circle.png)
2008 Winner
![screen shot 2023 10 03 at 3.27.25 pm screen shot 2023 10 03 at 3.27.25 pm](https://www.carsoncityfrontierdays.com/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Screen-Shot-2023-10-03-at-3.27.25-PM-circle.png)
2007 Winner
![screen shot 2023 10 03 at 3.27.25 pm screen shot 2023 10 03 at 3.27.25 pm](https://www.carsoncityfrontierdays.com/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Screen-Shot-2023-10-03-at-3.27.25-PM-circle.png)
2006 Winner
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Shawn Raya, Fast and Serious