26th Annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo & 32nd Annual Art in the Park
July 8-9, 2006

Steamboat’s most colorful weekend, a festival of vibrant colors and art, is one of the most anticipated weekends of the summer.  The 26th Annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo combined with the 32nd Annual Art in the Park have become a staple of Steamboat in the Summertime. Join us for this spectacular early-morning affair with 40 hot air balloons rising softly from the mist and drifting over the valley. Later make your way over to Lincoln Park for Steamboat's biggest art and crafts festival. Art in the Park on Saturday  is from 9-5pm and Sunday 9-4pm. Mark your calendars cause this weekend is a local and tourist favorite!

Looking for a souvenir from Balloon Weekend?
Because we were rained out on Sunday we have plenty of souvenirs left from the 26th Annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo. We're happy to do mail orders if you want us to send you a t-shirt, golf shirt, sweatshirt, coffee mugs, ornaments, pin or poster from this year's event. We're doing a $5 off everything "we got rained out" special right now, please see pricing below. Feel free to email us for size and color availablity at jody@steamboatchamber.com or evan@steamboatchamber.com The shipping fee is just $5 and all prices include tax. All short sleeve t-shirts, long sleeve t-shirts, sweatshirts and tank tops have the full artwork (to the right) on the back and a front left chest design on the front. Or if you're a local or it town, stop by the Steamboat Visitor's Center where we have these items on display.

Souvenir Sale pricing is as follows:
Short sleeve, white: $10
Short sleeve, green: $15
Long sleeve, green: $15
Sweatshirts & golf shirts: $30
Mugs: $5
Pins: $2 each or two for $3.50
Youth t-shirts (S,M,L): $10  - design on front only
Men's and women's tank tops: $10
Visors: $10
Women's specific t-shirts in light blue: $10 - design on front only

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Back by popular demand, we are going to try to bring the Balloon Shine back on Saturday night! This event is always weather permitting. If it's a clear and beautiful night, head over to the Meadows field on Saturday night at dark around 9:00 p.m. to watch 6 - 8 of the balloons lit up and glow in the dark. You won't want to miss it. Our Balloon Shine sponsor is new Sunshine Lift at the Steamboat Ski Area. The best place to watch is on the rim of the Wildhorse Meadows field on Mt. Werner Circle.

Launch Field remains the same for one more year!
Great news!! We just got word from the owners of the Meadows field that our traditional launch field has come available for us to use this year. We're jumping on this opportunity....so one more year at the Meadows field! Thanks so much to the Wildhorse Meadows and Resort Ventures for letting us launch from your field.

As always admission and parking are free for the Saturday and Sunday morning balloon events. There will be vendors selling souvenirs, coffee and breakfast items on the launch field. Everyone's encouraged to join us on the launch field to take pictures and watch the pilots prepare for take off!

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Weekend Schedule:

Friday, July 7, 2006
5:30 - Free Summer Concert Featuring Michael Franti & Spearhead, base of the Steamboat Ski Area
7:30 p.m. – Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series at Romick Arena in downtown Steamboat Springs
8:00 p.m. - Strings in the Mountains Presents BeauSoleil at the Strings in the Mountains Tent

Saturday, July 8, 2006
7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.  Hot Air Balloon Rodeo - Join us on the Meadows launch field to watch 40 balloons take off over the Yampa Valley
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – 32nd Annual Art in the Park at the Lincoln Park at the west end of town
7:30 p.m. – Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series at Romick Arena in downtown Steamboat Springs
8:00 p.m. - Strings in the Mountains Presents Mostly Mozart at the Strings in the Mountains Tent
9:00 p.m. or dark - Balloon Shine sponsored by Sunshine Lift at Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation at the Meadows Field

Sunday, July 9, 2006
7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Hot Air Balloon Rodeo - Join us on the Meadows launch field to watch 40 balloons take off over the Yampa Valley
8:00 a.m. – 28th Annual Mountain Madness Half Marathon and 10K part of the Steamboat Springs Running Series
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – 32nd Annual Art in the Park at the Lincoln Park at the west end of town

Special thanks to all of our 2006 Sponsors. We couldn't do this event without you!!!

 

Presented by:
Bank of the West

Lodging Sponsor

Hampton Inn & Suites

V.I.P. Tent Sponsor

Vectra Bank

 

Balloon Shine Sponsor

The New & Improved Sunshine Bowl & Lift at the Steamboat Ski Area

 

Corporate Balloon Sponsors:
Pinnacol Assurance
Sheraton Steamboat Resort
Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation

Full Balloon Sponsors:
Ace at the Curve
Atmos Energy
B & K Distributing
Bear Claw Condominiums
Best Western Ptarmigan Inn
Brown and Brown Insurance
Chadwick Real Estate
Chateau Chamonix/Northstar Management
City Market
Coldwell Banker Silver Oak
Cook Chevrolet
Denver Newspaper Agency

Denverpost.com/travel
Ferrellgas
First National Bank of Steamboat Springs
High Mountain Sotheby’s Real Estate -  Stephanie Curd
Jack FM
Johnny B. Good's
MDM Group
Mountain Resorts
Mountain Valley Bank
NAPA Auto Parts
Native Excavating
PostNet
Rabbit Ears Motel

Re/Max Denver
Steamboat Architectural Associates
The Bottleneck
Twentymile Coal
Waste Management
Wells Fargo

This year's artwork (top right image) was created by local artist, Michelle Ideus. Artist Michelle Ideus is no stranger to painting paradise. Staying close to nature's beauty, her bold color and lively brushwork reflect the spectacular areas in which she has lived and traveled. Colorado mountain scenes, Maui and Oregon ocean fronts, broad landscapes of the Columbia River Gorge and delicate flowers of many regions decorate her portfolio. Since moving to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Michelle has added horses to her repertoire as well. Numerous visits to the area's rolling meadows and local ranches have inspired her "Horsin' Around" series of mixed media paintings. For more information about Michelee visit her web site at www.artsyhorse.com Look for this beautiful artwork on all of our event merchandise!

If you're a vendor that's interested in vending at the Art in the Park, please click here to download an entry application or find out more information about the Art in the Park which is brought to you by the Steamboat Springs Arts Council.

If you're interested in sponsoring a balloon at this year's event, we're always looking for sponsors! Please contact Jody at the Steamboat Springs Chamber for more information at 970-879-0882 x203 or via email at jody@steamboatchamber.com.

Souvenirs from the 2004, 2005 and 2006 events are still available including event posters, t-shirts, Christmas ornaments, sweatshirts, long sleeve t-shirts, lapel pins, embroidered golf shirts, visors, hats and kid and infant t-shirts. Please email jody@steamboatchamber.com or call 970-879-0882 x203 for availability. We accept all forms of payment and can ship anywhere.