It was a busy morning on the Mercer Lands in Southwest High River with about half a dozen balloons taking off Wednesday, September 25 just after 8 a.m.

The flights stopped traffic as people stopped to look on as the balloons took flight.

Even kids waiting for the school buses to come pick them up paused to wave and holler at the pilots and passengers as they went by less than 100 feet over their heads.

And the odd homeowner in the area popped their heads out their doors to take a gander as the large, colourful balloons sailed silently by.

The Balloon festival runs through the weekend with the big night set for Friday and the annual "Balloon Glow," which is expecting some huge crowds again this year, even with a forecast calling for cold, rain and maybe snow.

They get going around 7 o'clock on the land at the Corner of Mcleod & Highwood Trails Southwest on Friday, September 27.