The Pueblo Chile and Frijoles Festival begins with hot air balloons

PUEBLO, Colorado (KRDO) — The first leg of the Pueblo Chile and Frijoles Festival kicked off this morning on the event's 30th anniversary.

There are 30 balloons symbolizing the 30th annual Chile Festival.

“Colorado is a really great place to fly. I decided I wanted to do it one day because it's so incredible. After my first flight, I knew I had to do it, just to have fun,” said Nancy Lambertson of So Cool Ballooning.

“When I first started looking at balloons, I always said, 'Oh my God, that's so cool, that's so cool,'” Lambertson explained.

She says her favorite part is being able to check it off someone's bucket list, someone who was really scared and then just felt completely at peace with themselves, or someone who has wanted to do it for so long.

The festival runs until September 22nd. Find more information here.