TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The 2024 Taiwan International Air Balloon Festival got underway on Saturday morning (July 6) at Taitung’s Luye Highland, attracting more than 15,000 visitors.

This year’s event will run for 45 days and has 40 different hot air balloons from Taiwan and other countries such as France, the United Arab Emirates, North Macedonia, Ukraine, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, and the U.K.

Taitung County Magistrate Yao Ching-ling (饒慶鈴) co-hosted the opening ceremony, noting the event is now in its 14th year. The festivities feature 12 “night glow” concerts, involving music and hot air balloons making choreographed movements, a performance involving 500 drones, and a high-altitude fireworks show, per SETN.

At the opening ceremony, 11 different domestic hot air balloons were on display, with many taking off one after another. Some featured well-recognized figures such as Mazu, Hello Kitty, a Formosan black bear, and a heart-shaped balloon.

Other eye-catching hot air balloon designs from abroad included Frankenstein from Brazil, a Yakult bottle from Japan, the Little Prince from France, and a Coach handbag from the U.S. Many visitors to the opening ceremony were delighted by the sight of majestic hot air balloons rising into the air from Luye Highland.

Visitors wanting to experience the thrill of a tethered hot air balloon ride are encouraged to use an online reservation system to book tickets for flights between five and seven minutes in length. The cost is NT$550 (US$17) on weekdays and NT$650 (US$20) on weekends. Balloon rides are restricted to two different times each day: 5:30–7 a.m. and 5–6:30 p.m.

According to mobile phone data, 15,000 people attended the opening ceremony, with more than 70% coming from outside Taitung County. One participant, surnamed Su (蘇) from Pingtung, said she attended previous hot air balloon events and was still eager to rush over with the whole family to participate in this year’s event.