Balloon Festival Oct 11, PM

At sunset, we rode the shuttle bus back to the field and witnessed the special shapes "Glodeo" as darkness fell. The balloons are filled with hot air again but are tethered to the ground.  The "Glodeo" is a light show featuring all the balloons that flew in the morning. Here they are filling the balloons.  Darth Vader is yet to take shape (third from left)

 As it got darker, shaped balloons glowed when propane was ignited to heat air.

Propane burners are most efficient at full-blast, so they are operated in bursts, with pauses to evaluate results.

French firetrucks say to dial 122 for emergency

On the command of the "Balloonmeister" all the pilots would turn on the propane flames, and the balloons would light up in unison. 
The next count down would signal the pilots to use short bursts of flame so the whole field was full of twinkling balloons.   Pretty cool!

A great fireworks display followed the "Glodeo".