One of the featured balloons this year is the spectacularly colourful Hummingbird, piloted by Doug Grimes from Albuquerque, USA, as well as Kerbie the Frog.

Mr Grimes has flown the Hummingbird all over the world including Thailand, Japan, New Zealand and Mexico. After only getting one flight in Canberra last year due to poor weather Mr Grimes decided to come back for another run.

He's been flying balloons professionally for 41 years and says the Hummingbird may have the most complex design of any hot air balloon in the world.

"It has just as much material on the inside as it does outside, just to make it look like a bird," Mr Grimes said.

The balloon was designed in Brazil, the home of complex hot air balloons, according to Mr Grimes.

Balloon Aloft Canberra director John Sanby said the event gets better each year thanks to ACT government support.

The company is running seven commercial balloons which can be booked during the week-long event, with private pilots operating a further 36.

While Mr Sanby is used to having essentially free roam of the Canberra sky during the year, he said the event runs very smoothly with all the pilots highly trained and respectful of each other to put on a great show.

Two people enjoying the show were locals Sarah Goodwin and Louise Smith who made the early trek before a relaxing breakfast.

Mrs Goodwin said she loved the family-oriented feel of Enlighten and the Balloon Spectacular which were the perfect way to celebrate the start of a Canberra autumn.

Loading

The balloons will be taking off at 6.15am each morning from the lawns of Old Parliament House until March 18 and with weather looking promising, the pilots are hopeful of taking off each day.

Follow The Canberra Times on Instagram and show us your Canberra Balloon Spectacular photos using #canberratimes.