History of the Old West Balloon Fest

The history of the Old West Balloon Fest in western Nebraska began with the Old West Weekend. The event ran for twenty years before being canceled due to insurance costs. The Old West Balloon Fest was revived and sponsored the U.S. National Championships for three years before moving to another city. Unfortunately, the weather in western Nebraska made it difficult for the competition as hail storms, wind, and cloud cover inhibited take-offs, even leading to heated controversy among pilots in 2020. This short was created as a thank-you for the competing pilots in 2022 and aired at a dinner gala in honor of the pilots and crews. We've included it on our channel because it's a good source for seeing the sights and the sounds of the Nebraska panhandle.