I’ve covered a lot of community events as a journalist, and very rarely, do I participate in said events as an actual member of the public. But this morning, I decided I would drag myself out of bed at the ungodly hour of 6 a.m. and go see what all the fuss was about. And it was a huge mistake, or so I thought while biking through the dark toward Ann Morrison Park, my teeth chattering in the morning cold.

But then, I see a group of kids being herded in the same direction, and the excitement builds, and then 20 minutes later, BAM — I have the same dopey grin on my face as everyone else as we stare at the sky.

Several hot air balloons lift off from Ann Morrison Park in Boise,Idahoon Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011 as part of the Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic event. (AP Photo/Jessie L. Bonner)

Here’s some that didn’t run on the wire: