50 years ago, a few hot air balloon enthusiasts took off from a mall parking lot in the heart of Albuquerque (New Mexico – USA). Year after year, the gathering became legendary. It was the beginning of the hot air balloon revival. Everywhere in the world, the dream was to fly one day in the middle of hundreds of hot air balloons, at the beginning of October. I finally did it in 1986 and I came back with the idea of Fraternity 89, believing that such a meeting was necessary in Europe. And in the region of the pioneer of the air: Pilâtre de Rozier. It was done in 1989 and it is still going on. Since then, more than 50 nations meet every two years in the heart of the Lorraine Nature Park, at the end of July, offering an exceptional show of hundreds of hot air balloons.
