Promoted by the company Publibalão, in collaboration with
“Alentejo sem Fronteiras - Clube de Balonismo”, the 25th edition of the
festival, the oldest of its kind in Portugal, will take place in several
locations in the districts of Portalegre and Évora, between November 4 and 13.
The event's director and founder, Aníbal Soares, explains
that, as a way of commemorating the 25th edition of the festival, they decided
to “extend the number of days, flights and 'night glow' shows” , so that “a
greater number of people” can watch and take a free flight in a hot air
balloon.
During the event, and whenever the weather permits, the
International Hot Air Balloon Festival (FIBAQ) promises to promote 15 free
flight sessions with around 35 hot air balloons from different nationalities
such as Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
This year, FIBAQ will take place in Alter do Chão,
Fronteira, Monforte, Nisa, Ponte de Sor and at Fundação Abreu Calado, in
Benavila, in the municipality of Avis, in the district of Portalegre.
In addition to travelling through these regions further
north of the Alentejo, FIBAQ will also be present in Borba and Vila Viçosa, in
the district of Évora.
The festival, the largest and oldest of its kind in
Portugal, has its roots in the district of Portalegre and served as the basis
for the opening, in 2012, of the country's first school for hot air balloon
pilots, in Fronteira.