Date(s) – Saturday August 25, 2018 – Sunday August 26, 2018
6:45 am – 10:00 am
Ride Info:
We are selling tether rides. The ride takes about 10 minutes and you do not actually get out over the lake. The ride costs: $20 per Adult (ages 13+) and $15 per child (ages 4-12). Under the age of 4 cannot ride (due to safety concerns). Book rides by clicking below. *this is a weather permitting event**
What does the event cost? Where can I camp?
So the event is free to see! However the Elephant Butte State park does charge per vehicle.
Our launch site is scheduled to be on Lions Beach inside the main gate. We will arrive onto the beach around 7 am or shortly after. You can camp anywhere along the coast line you can find room.
What to do while the balloons take off?
Please do not park your 2 wheel drive vehicle on soft sand! You will get stuck and be responsible to find a way to become un-stuck. We ask that you do not park your vehicle near a balloon trailer, or truck as we are trying to set up safely and take up quite a bit of room for each balloon. Listen to anyone with a crew shirt or pilot shirt on as to we again are just looking out for everyone’s safety. Please take as many pictures as you want and post them to our Facebook page. Our flights will be done around 9 am at the latest on both days. We will not be having any afternoon or evening events as to the weather does not allow us to.
Location
Elephant Butte Lake State Park, Highway 195, Elephant Butte
Contact: Jimmy McCarthy | Elephant Butte Balloon Regatta Organization
505-510-3009
info@ebbr.org
The Elephant Butte Balloon Regatta© (EBBR) provides an opportunity for balloonists, skippers and sponsors to get together and have fun at Elephant Butte Lake New Mexico. Additionally, it provides the communities of Elephant Butte, Truth or Consequences and Williamsburg additional visitors after the summer season. The EBBR traces its history back to the 1970’s when balloonists would come to Elephant Butte for the Mother’s Day weekend, or in some years, the Easter weekend. The timing of the rally was generally dependent on when the balloonists decided that spring had arrived and it was time to go to “The Lake” and fly. The “Cloudbouncer” The official monthly publication of the Albuquerque Aerostat Ascension Association (AAAA or Quad A) March 1980 issue Announced “The Elephant Butte Mothers day Campout” to be held May 10 and 11. The March 1981 issue of the “Cloudbouncer” announced “The Greater Mesilla Valley Aerostat Ascension Association Annual Easter Fly-in” would be held April 18 and 19. In 1989 Oppenheimer industries donated $500 for prize money if the balloonists would fly over the lake to the Champagne Hills subdivision. The Coast Guard Auxiliary became concerned that balloons flying over the lake might get into trouble and provided five chase boats to ensure safety. This concern for safety lead to the formation of the EBBR and the Balloon Boat Relay Race© (BBRR). The BBRR provided a chase boat for each balloon forming a racing team. The skipper carried the drop marker, baton, for the balloon race out onto the lake. The balloonists then do a water landing, known as a “Splash and Dash”, to receive the baton and carry it to the designated drop area. Prizes and/or prize money is then awarded to both the winning pilots and skippers. The Flying and boating has continued this tradition over the years. On July 1st 1998 the city of Elephant Butte was incorporated as the 101st city in the State of New Mexico. The new city chartered their own Chamber of Commerce in September 1999 and one of their first acts was to purchase the rights and copyrights to the Elephant Butte Balloon Regatta by unanimous vote. In 2007, the Chamber decided to stop running the rally, and the rights were transferred to Kevin Cloney and Al Lowenstein
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