Colombian authorities will close the airspace over the capital Bogota on Sunday July 19. Instead of planes, the bogotanos will see around 60 hot-air balloons floating over their city.
The balloons are part of the country’s celebration of its Independence Day, celebrated on July 20.
Bogota will experience a spectacle never seen before in Colombia, the general secretary of the mayor, Yuri Chillan, told local media Tuesday. The event takes place under the slogan “Flight of Freedom, a journey of the democratic memory of our country.”
People from Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, England and the United States will come to Bogota with their hot-air balloons. All in different colors and different sizes, from 50 to 80 meters.
The festivities start on Saturday, July 18, at 10 AM in the Simon Bolivar park with entertainment throughout the day, like parachuting. At 6 PM some balloons will rise for a demonstration.
On Sunday at 6:45 AM all hot-air balloons will leave for their journey over Bogota – in whatever direction the wind may carry them.