Statewide visitors take to the skies for Naples hot air balloon rides

Hundreds of people statewide visited Naples to see and take rides in hot air balloons at the Naples Balloon Glow Friday.

“It’s awesome,” Joshua Trierweiler said. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”

No matter what age you are, being able to fly in the sky in a huge balloon is pretty cool.

“Honestly, I always wanted to do it,” Luca Difalco said. “And it’s a beautiful experience.”

Balloon meister Travis Vencel said almost 85% of their ticket sales are from people out of town.

“People drive a long ways for these kind of events,” Vencel said.

That was good news for the City of Naples.

“They’ll spend money here at this event but then spend money in the community,” Vencel said.

Vencel also said the festival is a great opportunity for people to have an experience up in the air and see a different view of the city.

“It’s truly a bucket-list-type thing,” he said. “Most people only get to do once in their life.”

The balloon glow festival runs through Sunday this weekend at the Collier County Fair & Exposition, Inc. located at 751 39th Avenue Northeast in Naples.

Event hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Vencel says the weather will be perfect for a hot air balloon ride.

Many people got to cross hot air balloon ride of their bucket list to end their week.

“It was on my bucket list for years, since I was a little girl,” Melilla Difalco said. “And today the day finally came.”