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Thousands of people poured onto the field filled with balloons on Friday night for the Balloon Glow.
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Thousands of people poured onto the field filled with balloons on Friday night for the Balloon Glow.
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The wind died down and over 10,000 people poured into the field for the Balloon Glow Friday night.

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Thousands of people enjoyed getting up close and personal.

It's the most popular event during the 12th annual Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival in High River.

There was something extra special this time too because this year the festival's theme 'Women of the Wind' celebrated women aeronauts.

Six women pilots are at this year's festival, and they were recognized on stage along with one special surprise guest.

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4 of the 6 women balloon pilots, aka aeronauts, on stage with organizer Jamie Kinghorn during the Balloon Glow.

The special guest was a female RCMP officer in full red serge and a female police officer helicopter pilot who flew in and landed in the field just behind the stage much to the delight of the crowd.

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A policewoman helicopter pilot and an RCMP officer in full red serge. The RCMP are celebrating 50 years since women were allowed to join.
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A policewoman helicopter pilot landed right in the field behind the stage at the Balloon Glow and offered kids a chance to sit in and take photos.

Hundreds of young families made it out again this year and with a record 22 food trucks, the crowd was kept fed and watered and entertained with a live DJ.

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The 22 food trucks fed and watered over 10,000 people.

It was a selfie's paradise once dusk started to set in and spectators were allowed onto the field to get up close and personal with the 22 balloonists and their balloons.

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Selfies and family photos were very popular.

Most of the balloons were able to inflate as the wind died down while others just did the candlestick. That just means the pilots had their baskets out and flared their tanks.

The festival continues Saturday with two potential balloon flights at 7:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. and then one last shot at getting the balloons up on Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m.