Hound Competition The three-day event begins with the Hare and Hound Competition, a ballooning event in which two balloons act as the "hares" while the 100 or so other balloons follow the leaders as the "hounds." Modeled after the traditional English sport of freeing a rabbit, giving it a head-start, then releasing a pack of canines to hunt it down, the ballooning competition is less dire for the hare. The E.L. Cord Tissue Paper Hot Air Balloon Launch The Great Reno Balloon Race Tissue Paper Balloon Launch, a Washoe County School District and Balloon Race tradition since 1999. On Thursday and Friday of the Balloon Race, over 1,000 students release their colorful, hand-made, model hot air balloons off Bunsen burners. Balloon Blackjack Another popular event at The Great Reno Balloon Races is Balloon Blackjack. This event, implemented at the Balloon Race in 1999, gives the pilots a taste of the Reno gaming experience in an airborne blackjack tournament. The pilots compete for prizes such as complimentary weekends and meals at many of the area's best casinos. The World's Largest Pajama Party-Pajama Fest The Balloon Race's newest event and one of its most notable is The World's Largest Pajama Party. Pajama Fest invites the entire community to participate by attending The Great Reno Balloon Race in pajamas. As well to wearing pajamas, participants are encouraged to show off their best ‘bedhead’ during the Bed Head competition. Rolling out of bed is hardly a bad thing at the World's Largest Pajama Party where spectators of all ages are encouraged to leave their PJs on for what the coziest party of the year is quite possibly. Volunteers Each year The Great Reno Balloon Race volunteers, or Aeronauts, come together to help make the event possible. The Aeronauts consists of about 100 people providing help in many areas of the race including field set-up, pilot crewing, and upkeep of the grounds. They also assist everyone involved in the race from the organizers and pilots to the sponsors and spectators. The volunteer group meets monthly and works in shifts during the actual event. See also Hot air balloon festivals External links - www.renoballoon.com 2008 Great Reno Balloon Race Gallery 2007 Great Reno Balloon Race Gallery YouTube - Reno Balloon Race 2006 Great Reno Balloon Race Photographs Hot air balloon festivals in the United States Festivals in Nevada Sports in Reno, Nevada Recurring sporting events established