While there are many activities that come to mind when I think of winter, waking up before dawn to stand in a field watching hot air balloons climb into the sky, while the thermometer reads -6 degrees, is not one of them. However, the city of Hudson, Wisconsin has hosted a mid-winter hot air balloon festival since 1990, typically on the first full weekend of February. Hot air balloon pilots come from as far away as Pennsylvania and California for an opportunity to take flight in winter!
On a frigid Sunday morning in early February, with snow coating the ground and my breath visible in the air, my wife bundled up and drove to River Crest School to watch thirty hot air balloons take flight. Was it cold? Yes. Was it memorable? Yes. Am I glad I went? Absolutely.
So grab your parka and your snow boots, and come along on a fun winter adventure. We’ll also share a cool restaurant in New Jersey, and celebrate a friend’s new car.
Let’s begin:
The Hot Air Affair
Our latest adventure would be a trip to the city of Hudson in western Wisconsin. Located about 45 minutes east of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Hudson is home to approximately 14,000 people.It was an easy 2.5 hour flight from Newark, NJ to Minneapolis, MN. As we flew over the Twin Cities, I spotted US Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings football team, and the site of my Philadelphia Eagles’ first Super Bowl victory in February of 2018.Despite snow and cold temperatures, I did make a stop at Birkmose Park in Hudson, which offers a fantastic view of the St. Croix River from atop a bluff.Did I mention that it snowed? It certainly made for a pretty view from my relatives’ deck!After an enjoyable several days with family, my wife and I made it our goal to attend the Hot Air Affair, Hudson’s annual hot air balloon festival. Due to weather conditions, both balloon takeoffs on Saturday were cancelled, so we attended the Sunday morning launch. I was expecting a small turnout and was not prepared for the relatively large number of people who showed up!While it was -6 degrees when we woke up, by the time we arrived at the balloon launch the temperature had risen to a balmy -1.We managed to snag one of the last available spots in the school’s parking lot. My relatives let us borrow their 2019 Honda CR-V for the morning – after parking, we spent some time soaking up as much heat from the vents and the seat warmers as possible before heading out!We arrived as the pilots and crew were making preparations for takeoff. Unlike other hot air ballon festivals I have attended that keep the crowd away from the balloons, the Hot Air Affair allows you to walk right up to the crew as they ready their balloons for flight.I did not envy the crews who were working in the frigid air.Hot air balloons use propane to achieve flight. Fun fact: propane turns into a liquid at -44 degrees, and the coldest ever liftoff at the Hot Air Affair was a pleasant -43 (via Hot Air Affair). I guess I should stop complaining about -1!I loved watching the pillars of flame emerge from atop the baskets as the crews tested their gear.Once unfurled, the balloons quickly started to inflate and take shape.Given the amount of work required, I was surprised by how quickly the balloons were ready for takeoff.We watched, mesmerized, as the first balloon took flight. One of our relatives gave us a guide that provided the names of all the balloons. This is “Ruthie’s Delight.”The next balloon to lift off was perhaps my favorite: “Bubbles.”“Navajo Bob” (background) was the next to climb into the skies.I enjoyed being in the midst of the balloons as they took off – it provided a new perspective on the shape, colors, and textures of the balloons.I can’t imagine it was particularly warm for the pilot and crew of the balloons once they lifted off!Given that I grew up in the 80’s listening to rock, this balloon had my favorite name: “Sweet Child O’ Mine.”Perhaps my favorite shot of the morning!It was easy to momentarily forget the cold as we watched the balloons soaring in the sky. Having taken in our fill, we hurried back to the CR-V, got the heat pumping, and went to reward ourselves with some coffee!As we sat in the CR-V, clutching our steaming cups of Starbucks coffee for added warmth, we saw more balloons wafting slowly across the sky.We had an enjoyable time in the Midwest, but all too quickly we arrived back in New Jersey. Mother Nature gave us a beautiful sunset to welcome us home. Hot Air Affair was certainly a unique experience, and a creative way to have a fun outdoor event in the middle of winter!
Sunday Motor Co.
In 2019, Sunday Motor Co. opened. It is a car and racing-themed cafe in Madison, New Jersey that is housed in a 1950s Mobil service station. Over the past six years, it has become a big meetup spot for automotive enthusiasts, and I’ve long wanted to give it a try. On the Saturday after Valentine’s Day my wife suggested we pay the cafe a visit for breakfast.Checkered flags, photos of cool cars, coffee, and food? What’s not to love?The cafe leans heavily into German car brands, especially BMW and Porsche. That’s ok – a cool car is a cool car!Now, if the cafe had cool decorations but mediocre food, I’d consider it a gimmick. However, my oat milk latte was simply amazing.My wife had the Chili Eggs – soft scrambled eggs with chili oil, scallion, and furikake, with a side of gluten-free toast. She absolutely devoured her dish! Bonus points to our server who, without asking, confirmed that the toast was gluten-free.Meanwhile, I dined on Smoked Salmon Toast. The tasty smoked salmon was served with cream cheese, dill, and an heirloom tomato, all on a lovely piece of ciabatta toast (although I may have forgot to say “hold the onions” – they all ended up in a little pile on my plate). Our coffee was great and our breakfast was delicious!While no Honda/Acura products were represented in the cafe, I made sure to represent the brand outside! Sunday Motor Co is a fun, affordable, and yummy breakfast and lunch spot – we will definitely go back!
New Car February
Finally, I wanted to share a cool story from longtime reader and friend Annie, who recently took possession of this gorgeous 2022 Subaru Ascent!The Ascent is Subaru’s 8-seat mid-size SUV, and comes with a 260-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, Subaru’s impressive all-wheel drive system, and plenty of amenities for comfort and convenience. Annie’s Ascent has the “Limited” trim, which offers leather seats, second-row captain’s chairs, a premium sound system, and a panoramic moon roof – it’s loaded with features!The Ascent has plenty of room for transporting a family and all of their gear. Congrats on the new ride, Annie – I hope it brings you lots of great years of service!
Wrapping Up
The Hudson Hot Air Affair was certainly a unique experience! If you are in the Twin Cities area and are not afraid of braving the cold, it’s a great opportunity to witness hot air balloons up close! In addition to the balloon launches, there is also a parade, a children’s ice fishing event, an arts and crafts fair, and numerous other activities. Best of all, the Hot Air Affair is free! Just make sure you pack your coat… and some mittens.
Thanks as always, for coming along on this journey down the open road ahead.
The Open Road Ahead 
The balloon pictures are really cool! What a fun event to be at (minus the cold).
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Yes, it was an awesome event… if not for the cold! 🥶
Thanks for reading!!
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