Star Wars-themed sculptures & laser-engraved fire shows | Shimen Reservoir Hot Air Balloon Carnival

Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team | Photos by Taoyuan City Government

The 2017 Taoyuan Shimen Reservoir Hot Air Balloon Carnival kicked off with great fanfare from June 17 to June 25. To allow more hot air balloon enthusiasts to get up close and experience the thrill of liftoff, this year the event period has been specially extended to nine days. In addition to the highly popular tethered hot air balloon rides from last year, there will also be night light sculpture concerts on weekends, where you can admire the hot air balloons in a different nighttime setting. Not only are the weekends exciting and lively, but weekdays also offer a variety of enriching activities.

Seeing colorful giant hot air balloons in the city heralds the grand arrival of the hot air balloon storm
The Shimen Reservoir Hot Air Balloon Carnival was first held at Shimen Reservoir last year, providing visitors from northern Taiwan with a dreamlike experience of seeing hot air balloons up close. This year, not only has the event duration been extended, but hot air balloons were also brought into the city ahead of time during the event press conference on June 1, displayed as inflated spheres at the arts and cultural performance center, allowing city dwellers to see these colorful and fantastical giants. This also served as a warm-up for this year’s hot air balloon carnival, heralding that even more hot air balloons will take to the skies above Shimen Reservoir, with a grand hot air balloon storm on the way.

A galactic storm is coming！Darth Vader and Yoda-shaped balloons make a cool debut
Fans of the Star Wars universe are in for a treat, as the event this year will feature specially displayed Darth Vader and Yoda-shaped hot air balloons. This is the first time such character-shaped balloons have been introduced in northern Taiwan, and also the first time Yoda and Darth Vader-shaped balloons have appeared together in the Taiwanese sky. These two incredibly lifelike, large-scale shaped balloons—Darth Vader stands 26 meters tall and 21 meters wide, while Yoda is 19 meters tall and 28 meters wide—are challenging to produce due to the complexity of crafting shaped balloons. Seeing such large and realistic spheres is definitely one of the must-see highlights of this year’s hot air balloon festival. The massive shaped balloons are truly awe-inspiring, and experiencing them in person brings a unique charm. To tie in with the Star Wars theme, the city government will host a Galactic Day on June 17. All cosplayers dressed as Star Wars characters are welcome to gather at designated times for a chance to win free double tickets for a hot air balloon free flight.

Hot air balloon ride experiences are limited to early morning and dusk
Hot air balloon tethered rides have very strict climatic requirements. After evaluation by professional teams, the early mornings (5:30 AM) and evenings (4:30 PM) are the most suitable time slots. Visitors who wish to experience a hot air balloon ride can make advance reservations on the event’s official website. Each session is limited to 100 participants (reservations for the morning and afternoon sessions from June 17 to June 20 will open at 10:30 AM on June 12, and reservations for the morning and afternoon sessions from June 21 to June 25 will open at 10:30 AM on June 19). Each ride costs NT$500, with an additional 20% discount available for those holding a citizen card or for residents of Taoyuan, allowing everyone to enjoy a unique perspective of the Shimen South Park Ecological Park and the back pond.

A variety of exciting activities delight both adults and children
In addition to hot air balloon ride experiences, there are many other exciting activities at the event, such as the “walk-in exploration tour” where you can step inside a hot air balloon, and outdoor games, making the event site especially lively. On weekends, there are also special activities like the PLAY BALL inflatable zone, stamp-collecting events, and open-air concerts. Additionally, visitors who spend over NT$500 at local live fish restaurants, reservoir yachts, or event stalls can enjoy activities like grassland zorbing or bubble soccer.