IN PICTURES: Up, up, and away at Israel's hot air balloon festival

28 leading hot-air balloon crews from around the world gather at largest ever such event held in the Gilboa.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 12:15

Hot air balloons are prepared during 2-day festival (photo credit: REUTERS/Nir Elias) — Hot air balloons are prepared during 2-day festival

(photo credit: REUTERS/Nir Elias)

Twenty-eight leading hot-air balloon crews from around the world gathered Sunday at the Gilboa Hot-Air Balloon Festival, the largest ever held in Israel.

Hot air balloons fly overhead during sunrise — Hot air balloons fly overhead during sunrise (photo credit: REUTERS/Nir Elias)

Hot air balloons fly overhead during sunrise — Hot air balloons fly overhead during sunrise (photo credit: REUTERS/Nir Elias)

A hot air balloon (L), designed to look as if it is floating — A hot air balloon (L), designed to look as if it is floating (photo credit: REUTERS/Nir Elias)

Hot air balloons are prepared before they take flight . — Hot air balloons are prepared before they take flight . (photo credit: REUTERS/Nir Elias)

People are silhouetted as they watch hot air balloons fly — People are silhouetted as they watch hot air balloons fly (photo credit: REUTERS/Nir Elias)

People sit in the basket of a hot air balloon as it takes fl — People sit in the basket of a hot air balloon as it takes fl (photo credit: REUTERS/Nir Elias)

Children are silhouetted as hot air balloons and paragliders — Children are silhouetted as hot air balloons and paragliders (photo credit: REUTERS/Nir Elias)

Children are silhouetted as a hot air balloon (R) and paragl — Children are silhouetted as a hot air balloon (R) and paragl (photo credit: REUTERS/Nir Elias)

A man prepares a hot air balloon before it takes flight — A man prepares a hot air balloon before it takes flight (photo credit: REUTERS/Nir Elias)

Men prepare a hot air balloon before it takes flight — Men prepare a hot air balloon before it takes flight (photo credit: REUTERS/Nir Elias)

Dozens of balloons filled the air to perform air acrobatics shows and more. The festival is taking place Sunday to Monday at Ma’ayan Harod and Tuesday at the Eshkol National Park in the Negev.