..."the deadliest accident in recent memory happened in 1989, when 13 people were killed as two hot air balloons collided in Australia. Weber said while every activity had its risks, ballooning was "one of the safest means of flying in existence." "You are floating in the air like a feather. You put some heat into the envelope to get you up and then you float with the atmosphere, there is no speed involved… Weber added that a fire on board was the most dangerous situation for a pilot because the only way to escape it was by jumping overboard. "If passengers are jumping the balloon is getting lighter -- it's climbing again. It's getting in a more dangerous situation because the higher you go the more dangerous it is to jump out.” Dunnington also said fire resulting from contact with power lines was probably the biggest risk for hot air balloonists. "If you've hit a power line there isn't a fire extinguisher made that can put that out."   2015 Festival Calendar

April 11 - April 12, 2015	Dogwood Festival	Perry, GA	United States
April 11 - April 12, 2015	Balloons Over Paradise Festival	Immokalee, FL	United States
April 17 - April 19, 2015	New Smyrna Beach Balloon & Sky Fest	New Smyrna Beach, FL	United States
April 23 - April 25, 2015	U.S. Bank Great BalloonFest	Louisville, KY	United States
April 24 - April 26, 2015	Winnemucca Balloons Hot Air Balloon Festival	Winnemucca, NV	United States
April 24 - April 26, 2015	Lamesa Crossroads Balloon Rally	Lamesa, TX	United States
April 26 - April 26, 2015	Ballonhappening	Waregem	Belgium
May 01 - May 03, 2015	OldTimers Balloon Rally	Roswell, NM	United States
May 01 - May 03, 2015	Balloons over RussVegas	Russellville, AR	United States
May 01 - May 02, 2015	11th Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival	Foley, AL	United States
May 14 - May 16, 2015	Preakness Celebration Balloon Festival	Ellicott City, MD	United States
May 15 - May 17, 2015	SAN ANTONIO BALLOON SPECTACULAR	Floresville, TX	United States
May 15 - May 17, 2015	Erie Town Fair and Balloon Festival	Erie, CO	United States
May 22 - May 25, 2015	DOG BOWL AND HOT AIR BALLOON CHAMPIONSHIP	Frankenmuth, MI	United States
May 22 - May 25, 2015	Vara Wines Rio Grande Classic	Rio Rancho, NM	United States