The 4th Annual Heritage Inn High River Hot Air Balloon Festival is less than a month away.

Organizer Jamie Kinghorn says there's a good volunteer base which is really helping out.

He's expecting about the same number of balloons as last year.

"We had 25, we had a full house, and then we had some cancellations because of some work obligations and some things like that," he says. "But we're still expecting over 20 but I won't know until probably a few days before."

The event kicks off Wednesday September 21 and the Friday night Balloon Glow, where the balloons remain on the ground while lit up at night, will be held on the fields behind Spitzee school which should be a perfect spot for people in the High River Hospital.

"Everybody's come together to make it work, the field is big enough, it's well sheltered, we're pretty excited," Kinghorn says. "And you know for those folks in the hospital, they're going to be able to roll over and there we'll be."

He says the "little boy" and "little girl" balloons are coming back from the U.K. and a new pilot from Lithuania will be taking part along with others from the U.S. although the popular "Nelly B" from Belgium won't be there because the pilot has other work commitments, but he does plan to return next year.