The small town of Paracho, Michoacán hosts an annual balloon festival where hundreds of hand-made balloons are launched over the course of a weekend. Ranging in size from pumpkins to small houses, the balloons are constructed from nothing but tissue-paper and glue.

Aloft on Butterflies' WingsCantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 19, 2014 — **Aloft on Butterflies' Wings**
*CantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 19, 2014*

A flame-lit cloth, soaked in paraffin or kerosene, provides the heat needed to lift the balloon high into the sky.

StarflightCantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 19, 2014 — **Starflight**
*CantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 19, 2014*

Variations on a Theme of MagentaCantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 19, 2014 — **Variations on a Theme of Magenta**
*CantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 19, 2014*

La Danza de los Viejitos (The Dance of the Little Old Men)CantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 19, 2014 — **La Danza de los Viejitos (The Dance of the Little Old Men)**
*CantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 19, 2014*

Impossibly-complex shapes and designs are the stuff of dreams. All you need are a pair of scissors, buckets of white glue, some cellophane tape, endless reams of tissue paper, and many skilled hands. Added plus: a creative visionary who has an eye for symmetry, graphic design and an understanding of geometry & physics.

Willy Wonka's FantasyCantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 20, 2014 — **Willy Wonka's Fantasy**
*CantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 20, 2014*

Locals and visitors alike crowd Paracho's plaza to watch teams inflate and launch their balloons.

EldersCantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 19, 2014 — **Elders**
*CantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 19, 2014*

Bell TowerCantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 19, 2014 — **Bell Tower**
*CantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 19, 2014*

Points & PeaksCantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 19, 2014 — **Points & Peaks**
*CantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 19, 2014*

Tissue-paper balloons are truly an ephemeral art. Designed for a single launch, months of hard work are greeted with either immediate success or immediate failure. When a balloon clears the ground, it climbs high in the sky—never to be seen again. Conversely, an uncooperative gust of wind can dash one's dreams—sending the delicate art/aircraft up in a quick-burning puff of smoke.

¡Qué Lástima!CantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 19, 2014 — **¡Qué Lástima!**
*CantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 19, 2014*

Boy with Two BalloonsCantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 20, 2014 — **Boy with Two Balloons**
*CantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 20, 2014*

Visions in PinkCantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 20, 2014 — **Visions in Pink**
*CantoyaFest: Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 20, 2014*

In addition to local and native-Mexican entrants, select, foreign designers (from Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, & France) were invited to participate in the weekend's festivities.