Balloons Over Anderson

More than a hundred, perhaps a hundred and fifty, braved the heat and came out to the Civic Center Launch Field for a magnificent show of support for the family of Mike Teis, one of our beloved balloon pilots who suddenly departed this life in April. A full seated meal was provided in a huge decorated tent. Several family members and friends gave amazingly articulate heartfelt remarks. The civic center provided four truckloads of tables and chairs. The Cancer Association of Anderson provided all kinds of help. The unhurried event was totally positive and affirming of Mike's life.

Mike Teis one of our favorite balloon pilots from North Carolina passed away suddenly in April.

If you’re interested in joining us, we will be having Mikey’s celebration of life on June 14th at the Anderson, SC hot air balloon fields. We will hold the event rain or shine! Weather permitting, we are hoping our pilots will be able to fly their balloons honoring Mike! We have our great friend, Roger Clark, inflating The EnTEISment in Mike’s honor. ❤️

Four days ago one of our beloved balloon pilots took his last flight. Mike Teis suffered a catastrophic stroke and was unable to recover. He showed his generosity in the ultimate way, taking an Honor Walk to the operating rooms where transplant teams were waiting to harvest his organs. Even in his passing, he was generous beyond words, as he was in life. This is the text for his obituary. A link to it is also included if you wish to respond in some way.

Michael "Mike" Teis Obituary

Michael “Mike” David Teis, age 51, a ten-year resident of Candler, NC, passed away on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC.

Mike was born in Stark County, Ohio, on December 13, 1974, to David Kenneth Teis and Jane Ann Kail Teis of Mesa, Arizona. He attended Canton South High School and later continued his education at Stark State Technical College, where he earned an associate degree in engineering. Mike worked in engineering at Eaton Corporation.

Mike had a passion for adventure and connection. For eight years, he was a hot air balloon pilot—a role that was far more than a hobby; it was his pride and joy. Mike found true happiness in the skies, sharing breathtaking views and unforgettable moments with others. He had a special gift for turning a simple flight into a lifelong memory, and nothing meant more to him than seeing the excitement and wonder on the faces of those he carried above the world. Through his calm spirit and love for the experience, he made every passenger feel safe, inspired, and part of something magical. It is this passion for making dreams come true that he will be most remembered for. In addition to his time in the air, Mike worked as a travel agent, continuing his love for helping others explore and experience the world. A devoted sports fan, he remained true to his Ohio roots, enthusiastically supporting the Ohio State Buckeyes, Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Guardians, and Cleveland Cavaliers. He attended Biltmore Church in Asheville, NC.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Paul and Irene Kail, and his paternal grandparents, Melvin and Betty Teis.

In addition to his parents, those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of eight years, Kristine Jones Teis of the home; his daughters, Lesley Arrant and husband Caleb of Gastonia, NC, Sarah Towe and husband Tristan of Leicester, NC, and Abby Lance and husband Calvin of Candler, NC; his grandchildren, Vivien Arrant, Sara Arrant, and Lucas Arrant, all of Gastonia, NC, and William Towe of Leicester, NC; and his sister, Michelle Teis and her partner, Jimmy Haas, of Laurelville, OH.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Penland Family Funeral Home is honored to be caring for the Teis family at this time

https://www.penlandfamilyfuneralhome.com/obituary/MichaelMike-Teis?fbclid=IwY2xjawRfkSdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFva3pNTzJPS3N6MXRNMHl5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHuXSHEEn3mUw0kFXDvBkyNcIRUI9D3-7ehOP082llcTZiKba4lRt9G9UmKUU_aem_J8fFcjpwlxdDR75Tl2f2Og

Who doesn't love a humongous Christmas parade? Even better is being in it and having everyone shriek with delight when you pass by. It was a cold blustery damp day and we had the only warmth in the parade - a 15 million BTU hot air balloon burner. Anthony Seeger was probably the most popular guy in the parade as he was firing the burner and warming up some very cold spectators.

A whole bunch of friends from the Cancer Association of Anderson got together and created a float with a theme of flying high over cancer in our hot air balloons. That radiant warmth was a huge crowd pleaser; that crowd may have well exceeded thirty thousand. It was a glorious three hours with friends tossing candy out to huge crowds of kids scrambling for it.

Given that balloon pilots are hyper attuned to whats going on the sky, in case they had a momentary lapse, I will offer these images to fill the gap.

I've been granted to see many glorious things this past week across the country. The last thing I was expecting was brilliant Northern Lights unaided without a camera here in South Carolina. I viewed the sky and saw them as they appear in these images. Simply glorious. This series was made between 10:19 PM and 11:47 PM Tuesday 11-11-25. These were dynamic, swelling in intensity for several minutes and then fading to not being visible to unaided eye.

This is a very hot event. G scale strength was 4 on 0 to 5 range. Kp was 8.67 on range of 0 to 9.

A pair of coronal mass ejections are impacting our atmosphere. The results of a strong G4 solar storm are stunning color displays far south of their usual sightings. Good viewing is anticipated for Wednesday night 11-12-25. A bit earlier is best, like 8 PM, as CME wave actually will arrive during daylight hours.

Do give feedback in the comments on the Boo-Loon Glow Anderson page.

🎈 Thank You, Anderson! 🎃

What an incredible night! We’re so thankful for everyone who came out to our first-ever Boo-Loon Glow — you showed up in huge numbers , and your excitement and patience made the evening so special. 💜

Even though the winds made things a little tricky, we’re proud of how everything came together — from the beautiful candlestick glow to the amazing crowd that stuck with us through it all. 🙌🔥

As a first-year event, we know there’s plenty to learn, and we’re already talking about ways to improve and make next year even better. Your support and good spirits meant the world to us!

We’d love your constructive feedback — what worked, what could be better, and what you’d love to see next time. Drop your thoughts in the comments to help us grow and glow even brighter in 2026! 🎈✨

7:10 pm