Colourful balloon festival in Mexico

Over 250 giant tissue-paper balloons have taken to the skies over Michoacán during Pátzcuaro's tenth annual Cantoya Fest. The Mexican city welcomed in excess of 20,000 visitors for the celebration of this distinctive artisanal tradition.

The balloons, known as 'cantoya', take their name from pioneering 19th-century aeronaut Don Joaquín de la Cantolla y Rico. The self-taught aviator constructed Mexico's first hot-air balloons, which he displayed at air exhibitions. The master balloon maker also crafted model versions, using newspaper and alcohol burners.

These toy balloons grew in popularity as artisans copied their designs to illuminate local celebrations. Balloon-making competitions followed, providing opportunities for makers to adapt construction techniques further. Cantoya Fest recently emerged to showcase the craft, states Raúl Dionisio Cortés, a member of the organising committee.

Raúl Dionisio Cortés: "The significance of creating a work of art using a paper balloon is something that only balloon makers can truly appreciate."

Teams of local artisans and 100 national teams welcomed 17 international participants this year, invited to take part from Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, France and Italy.

While the competition does heat up, the friendly rivalry sees teams supporting each other, notes competition judge Jorge Alberto Belmont.

Jorge Alberto Belmont: "It's a 100 percent family-friendly event that brings people together. It's really lovely. For us, it's a traditional toy, but that traditional toy brings families and friends together. Even though there's a competition among the balloon groups, everyone comes together to support one another and get their balloons to fly."

The motto of this year's festival, "where dreams take flight", acted as inspiration for the designs. Pátzcuaro's name in the local P'urhépecha language translates as 'place of happiness'. The shapes and colours of the balloons disappearing into the sky certainly brought a smile to everyone's face.

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