This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Park City's annual Autumn Aloft Hot Air Balloon Festival runs Friday through Sunday with 24 balloonists scheduled to be in the air.

"Autumn Aloft is a magical Park City event," explains event organizer Monty Coates. "Park City's fall foliage combined with the display of the balloons provides an unforgettable sight for event spectators."

The event began 30 years ago when Park City resident Gene Moser and a group of local hot air balloon pilots got together to celebrate the autumn in Summit County.

On Friday, there is a single balloon glow scheduled from 8 to 9 p.m. at the Newpark Town Center.

Saturday will see the main launch with 24 balloons taking flight from the North 40 Fields in Park City. Access begins at 7:45 a.m. with the launch starting at approximately 8 a.m. The address is 2530 Kearns Blvd.

That night from 8 to 8:30 p.m., balloon pilots will conduct a choreographed light show from eight balloon baskets on Park City's Historic Main Street between 4th and 5th Streets.

The main launch Sunday will be from the North 40 Fields again at about 8 a.m.

The Autumn Aloft of the early '80s and '90s and placed Park City on the map in the ballooning community," says Mike Bauwens, Autumn Aloft Balloonmeister. "As the event continues to grow and regain recognition, interest from the ballooning community continues to increase."   

For details on the event, log on to http://www.autumnaloft.com.