Balloon pilot Edcar Vermeulen, fires the burner as he prepares for a tethered ballon to rise up at the 3rd Taiwan International Balloon Fiesta at Luye Highland on June 12, 2013, in Taitung, Taiwan. (Ashley Pon/Getty Images)

After last year's record-setting International Hot Air Balloon Festival in Taiwan, the Taiwanese government is working to make the 2013 festival even bigger.

According to The China Post, last year the festival attracted 880,000 visitors from 14 different countries. This year the festival is set to be even more exciting with an expected 8 US/Taiwan certified commercial pilots with 5 balloons, including one depicting the character Darth Vader from the movie series Star Wars and another featuring a character from the popular mobile game Angry Birds.

The festival, which ends on August 11, may also give guests the chance to experience a ride on one of these balloons at this year’s festival.

Piloting a hot air balloon requires certain weather conditions for a safe flight. Extreme sunlight can cause internal temperatures to be high, which can result in melting, the festival’s website explains. The ideal time to go on a hot air balloon ride would be in the early morning or evening. While wind can cause shakiness and derail the balloon from its intended route, rain can increase the weight of balloon and impair its ability to expand.

The slideshow above features a taste of this year’s festivities. For more information, visit the International Hot Air Balloon Festival’s website.

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