The 31st annual Hudson Valley Hot Air Balloon Festival kicked off in Dutchess County on Friday.
The festival will take flight all weekend long, with 21 hot air balloons from all over the world.
Attendees can expect vendors, food trucks, live music, ax throwing, a beer and wine tent and plenty of other family fun activities.
Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Meredith Garofalo was at the festival Friday reporting live- and took a ride into the atmosphere above.
Garofalo says there are many things that make the Hudson Valley Hot Air Balloon Festival "soar," but to actually get a hot air balloon up into the sky, you need the perfect combination of weather - and science.