Matera Balloon Festival, Italy (8th- 11th October 2015)

Matera Balloon festival is scheduled for 8thh October 2015 in the European Capital of Culture, Matera. Spanning over a period of four days, this first ever International Festival of Ballooning takes participants on a never before felt experience up above in the sky. Murgia Timone is the prime location chosen this year. The park of Murgia Materana has been selected to host thrilling sports and cultural events, food fests, walking tours, art, culture and high-fly fights of balloons. As part of festival, you get to touch stones, pass by gigantic cliffs, experience rock churches up-close and catch glimpse of tuff houses.

In this edition of MBF, 20 crews of hot air balloons from all over Europe will color the sky into a beautiful portrait. The balloons will be flying high twice a day over Sassi. The simultaneously held events in the park include archery, cycling, trekking, horse riding and climbing, etc. There will be educational workshops for school children on healthy eating, paper art, glass recycling and other interesting activities. The other two eminent events are Taste Workshops by Slow Food and an art based show titled ‘Urban Street Art’. The World-famous German artist, Jim Avignon will grace this magnificent festival.

The end to the festival will be marked by a show of hot air balloons (‘Night Glow’) that will be held after sunset, when these majestic balloons will light up sky and there will be music in the air! Aura of this fascinating festival is an experience worthwhile.