Villager Sherill Emmons got a pleasant surprise when she looked out her lanai earlier this week.
What she saw was bright, colorful, 80 feet tall, 50 feet in diameter and about the same size as 77,000 basketballs put together. Much to her delight, it was a hot air balloon making a leisurely flight across Florida’s Friendliest Hometown on Tuesday morning in anticipation of Friday’s Balloon Glow event at The Villages Polo Fields.
“The view of the balloon was amazing,” said Emmons, who lives on Southern Trace in the Village of Polo Ridge. “They were so low I said good morning to them and they said good morning to me. It was so neat!”
Emmons said she definitely plans to attend the Friday evening event.
“That will be magnificent to see them at dusk,” she said.
The Villages Balloon Glow starts at 5 p.m. and lasts until 9. Costs are $10 per golf cart and $20 per car. In addition to seeing balloons glowing at dusk, those attending will find a variety of food vendors, face painting, pony rides and a selection of retail vendors.
The Villages Polo Fields is located at 703 Buena Vista Blvd.