Highs, Lows, and Hot Air: My Hot Air Balloon Experience
Service Hours Completed: 13.5 hours
Cumulative Fall Semester Service Hours: 24 hours
Volunteering at the Balloon Glow & Laser Show – A Weekend of Highs and Lows
For my second volunteer event in November, I helped at the Balloon Glow & Laser Show – New Orleans at NOLA Motorsports Park. I worked on both Friday (4:00 PM–10:30 PM) and Saturday (4:00 PM–11:00 PM), and it was an unforgettable experience. I had never seen hot air balloons in person before, let alone ridden in one, so this event was truly special.
My classmate, Nuriah, and I assisted a wonderful couple, Patrick and Tes, who traveled all the way from South Carolina with their brand-new balloon, featuring Rocky from The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle. There were around four tethered balloons for the public to explore up close and several others on display. Learning about the world of hot air balloons was fascinating, especially the costs and logistics.
I had no idea how expensive hot air balloons were! Patrick explained that the balloon itself costs about $50,000, the basket adds another $20,000, and the equipment requires 2–3 propane tanks costing $2,500 each, with $60 refills per tank. Add to that the trailer, travel expenses, and maintenance—it’s definitely an investment.
Setting up the balloon was an intricate process. First, we carefully flattened the balloon after it was pulled out of the bag. It was important to handle only the appendages to avoid tearing the fragile material. Patrick turned on the fan to inflate the balloon, a process that surprisingly only took about 30 minutes. Watching the balloon grow to its full size was incredible—it made me realize just how tiny we are in comparison.
Once the balloon was partially inflated, Patrick assembled the burners and blasted the flames to heat it further. The intensity of the flames was both mesmerizing and terrifying. Standing so close, I could feel the searing heat—it felt like standing near the sun! As the hot air filled the balloon, it began to rise slightly, but Rocky stayed tethered to the ground for the evening.
Even though the balloon didn’t fully launch, we had a great time encouraging visitors to take photos and learn more about the art of hot air ballooning. I was lucky enough to ride in the basket and even got to try out the levers to control the flames. The bursts of fire not only kept the balloon afloat but also kept us warm—it was freezing outside!
A Bittersweet Ending
At the end of the event, it was time to deflate and pack up the balloon. Tes and I pulled down the top strings while Nuriah and Pat tipped over the basket. Once the air was out, we patted down the balloon to remove any trapped air bubbles, folded it into a tube shape, and strapped it tightly. Finally, we carefully stuffed it back into its oversized bag.
Unfortunately, during this process, I lost my grandmother’s ring. I always wear her rings when I’m going somewhere important, or when I feel like I need to feel closer to her—to have her with me in some way, offering her protection and presence. Normally, for any heavy-duty volunteering or physical activity, I wouldn’t wear them. But this time, I made an exception. I’d never been on a hot air balloon before, and she never had the chance to experience one either. With my Granny being gone, wearing her rings is my way of keeping her close to me, carrying her memory into new and meaningful experiences.
It must have slipped off while I was patting down the balloon, wrapping the straps, or helping stuff it into the bag. I searched tirelessly that night and even bought a metal detector the next morning to look again before the festival opened. Patrick and Tes were kind enough to help me during their downtime, but despite our efforts, the ring wasn’t found. I even returned multiple times over the next few days, but it was gone.
Reflecting on November
Losing my Granny’s ring was devastating. It held so much sentimental value, and I’m heartbroken. Coupled with a tough exam week in my program, losing a family member, the election results, and even Mike Tyson losing to Jake Paul—it felt like November was a month of losses.
Despite everything, I try to remain grateful with Thanksgiving around the corner. Volunteering at the Balloon Glow & Laser Show was still an amazing experience. I learned so much about hot air balloons, got to ride in one for the first time, and met some incredible people. I'm thankful that I'm in a cool city, in an amazing program, surrounded by amazing people. While this month didn’t end as I had hoped, I’m holding on to the positive moments and hoping for better days ahead. December, be good to me 🙏
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