Seventeen hot air balloons will lift off from Storm Mountain Park on Friday and Saturday mornings, the largest fleet in the 19-year history of Sandy's annual Balloon Festival.

The free, two-day event runs Friday, August 7, and Saturday, August 8, across two venues, drawing food trucks, tethered rides, a DJ dance party, and a drone show to the city's south end and its downtown promenade corridor.

"This year we have 17 balloons, the most balloons we've ever launched, hopefully, if the weather cooperates both mornings, both Friday and Saturday morning," Sandy City Community Events Manager Katie Atkinson said on PBS Utah's Contact program, which aired Monday, August 3.

Morning launches at Storm Mountain Park

Balloon launches begin at sunrise, around 6:30 a.m. both mornings at Storm Mountain Park, 980 East 11400 South. Tethered rides are available first-come, first-served, lifting riders 50 to 80 feet. Food trucks, free latex balloons, and a morning DJ round out the ground-level scene.

Sandy City does not arrange private rides, but Atkinson said pilots often welcome spectators to help as crew and allow them into the basket to pull the torch.

Among the returning pilots is Michael Glenn, the world's first paraplegic hot air balloon pilot. Glenn flies a bee-shaped balloon named "Jolie."

Saturday evening: Balloon Glow and drone show at City Promenade

The festival shifts Saturday evening to City Promenade, 10000 South Centennial Parkway, for the Balloon Glow from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Pilots keep their balloons grounded and fire the burners, illuminating the envelopes against the night sky.

The evening program also includes bounce houses, free face painting, balloon twisting, caricatures, and more food trucks, according to Visit Salt Lake. A drone show caps the night at approximately 10 p.m.

City Promenade, developed with support from Sandy's Redevelopment Agency, sits along the Centennial Parkway corridor that connects several retail and dining destinations.

What to know before you go

Admission is free for every event, both mornings and Saturday evening. Personal drones, dogs, smoking, and vaping are prohibited. Bikes and scooters must be walked through the event area.

All balloon activities are weather-dependent. The festival event page notes that launches and the glow may be altered or canceled if conditions don't cooperate.