Globos de Cantoya (Cantoya's Balloons)

Named for mid-19th century Mexican aeronaut Joaquin de la Cantolla y Rico, these delicate, handmade, tissue paper balloons are the centerpiece of Pátzcuaro, Mexico's annual CantoyaFest.

Over the course of three days, 250 large-scale, unmanned balloons (plus untold thousands of smaller, personal ones) are launched, filling the skies of this welcoming Purepechan/Tarascan colonial town.

Heart of Gold (and Green, and Pink, and Purple, and...)CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017 — **Heart of Gold (and Green, and Pink, and Purple, and...)**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017*

Size

Torso-sized, car-sized, house-sized: Make 'em any size. Being handmade, balloons are limited only by one's creativity, skill and budget. And physics, of course.

Linn and I attended a workshop and made a five-sided, five-sheet lantern (similar to Elmo, below), which took us about 45 minutes to construct.

Tickle MeCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017 — **Tickle Me**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017*

For the sake of size comparison, an Elmo-sized lantern trails behind as the bottom cube in this triptych of balloons.

Cubes³ (Cubes, Cubed)CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017 — **Cubes³ (Cubes, Cubed)**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017*

Larger...

Check. Mate.CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017 — **Check. Mate.**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017*

...and larger, still. Balloons can be easily three or more stories tall.

Church MusicCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017 — **Church Music**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017*

Construction

Materials needed to make a Cantoya balloon:
• Tissue Paper
• White Glue
• Box Cutter
• Pliable Wire (for aperture, positioning the fuel)
• Paraffin-soaked cloth

Fitted SheetsCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Friday, July 21, 2017 — **Fitted Sheets**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Friday, July 21, 2017*

Beats by AnDREsCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Friday, July 21, 2017 — **Beats by AnDREs**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Friday, July 21, 2017*

Contest Day: Teams of three to five people had 8 hours to construct and launch what would be judged as the most elaborate balloon. Each team was given the same quantity of materials and had to assemble everything on site. The winning team was awarded a cash prize.

Glue FactoryCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Friday, July 21, 2017 — **Glue Factory**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Friday, July 21, 2017*

"Look! I'm Helping!" (aka Whirling Dervish)CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Friday, July 21, 2017 — **"Look! I'm Helping!" (aka Whirling Dervish)**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Friday, July 21, 2017*

Design

The intricacies of design and construction can be appreciated upon close inspection.

Stained 'LipsCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017 — **Stained 'Lips**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017*

Pink PincushionCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017 — **Pink Pincushion**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017*

Patterns begin to emerge in both positive and negative spaces.

Starry VoidCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017 — **Starry Void**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017*

Color WheelCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017 — **Color Wheel**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017*

Launching

Of course, bringing delicate tissue paper in close proximity to fire is a recipe for disaster. Wrangling the balloon while trying to get it aloft is inherently stressful for crew members and viewers alike.

An errant gust of wind during inflation or lift-off can create instant chaos, turning a stunning globo...

PorcupineCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017 — **Porcupine**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017*

Flaming PorcupineCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017 — **Flaming Porcupine**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017*

into a Hindenburg-sized calamity in mere seconds.

Rumor has it that this particular balloon's crew worked for three, long months assembling their balloon, only to see it fail spectacular on the launch pad.

Safety

And because of that high-risk of fire, event organizers have wisely scheduled the festival during Michoacán's rainy season. Sure, the weather may force unscheduled rain-delays, but launching an unmanned, fire-fueled balloon out into the countryside during the dry season is just irresponsible.

Raindrops Keep Fallin'...CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017 — **Raindrops Keep Fallin'...**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017*

During a rain break, a gendarme recruit trots out his falcon.

BirdmanCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017 — **Birdman**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017*

Invited Guests

Festival organizers invite balloon makers from all over the world to participate. This year, masterful artists from France, Colombia, El Salvador, Portugal and Brazil attended.

Those Brazilians were particularly enthused about coming to Mexico this year, because their government has outlawed all balloon construction within their country. (Balloons are frequent vehicles for launching airborne fireworks.)

Brazilian artists design and fabricate their balloons at home in large sections, smuggle the segments out of the country, and then assemble the wedges once they've arrived in Mexico.

Imagine trying to explain to the TSA why you've got a giant Jesus in your carry-on.

El Señor...CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017 — **El Señor...**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017*

...and His Crown of ThornsCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017 — **...and His Crown of Thorns**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017*

Hello, Dolly!CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017 — **Hello, Dolly!**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017*

This doll launched successfully but caught fire shortly after take-off. It landed on a nearby tile roof and fire crews rushed to extinguish the flames.

Location! Location! Location!CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017 — **Location! Location! Location!**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017*

(Note the drone, taking aerial video and trying desperately not to puncture the balloon with its rotors.)

Tail WindsCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017 — **Tail Winds**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017*

In order to stabilize the "mother balloon" and prevent it from tipping (and igniting itself), many balloons use a counter-balance or tail. This massive banner, also made entirely from tissue paper, hung below the balloon from Pátzcuaro.

Shapes

Balloons come in all shapes and designs as well. From the simple...

Ceci n'est pas un ballon.CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017 — **Ceci n'est pas un ballon.**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017*

Clef PaletteCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017 — **Clef Palette**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017*

...to the graphic...

Quilting BlockCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017 — **Quilting Block**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017*

Outside the BoxCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017 — **Outside the Box**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017*

Close EncounterCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017 — **Close Encounter**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Saturday, July 22, 2017*

...to the pointy...

Sea UrchinCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017 — **Sea Urchin**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017*

Thorny DevilCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017 — **Thorny Devil**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017*

...to the wildly complex.
Advanced designers use architectural CAD software to help them piece together madcap designs.

Prickly PearCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017 — **Prickly Pear**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017*

Court JesterCantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017 — **Court Jester**
*CantoyaFest: Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico — Sunday, July 23, 2017*

Luckily, there are strong wranglers to get those mammoth balloons launched. These larger balloons have been known to travel up to 20-25 miles downwind.