A year after it first amazed crowds at the 2024 Paris Olympics, a giant glowing balloon has returned to the skies. Now called the “Paris Cauldron,” the helium-powered ring lifted off again Saturday evening above the Tuileries Garden, just as the sun was setting.
About 30,000 people were expected to watch the relaunch, which happened during France’s annual music festival, the Fête de la Musique. The balloon, which no longer has Olympic symbols, will now rise into the sky every evening from June 21 to September 14 for the next three years.
Special shows are also planned for Bastille Day on July 14 and the anniversary of the 2024 Olympic opening ceremony on July 26. The display is meant to become a summer tradition in Paris.
Designed by French artist Mathieu Lehanneur and powered by the energy company EDF, the 30-meter-tall ring looks like a flame but doesn’t use fire. Instead, it glows with LED lights, mist, and fans that create a magical effect visible across the city.
During the Olympics, more than 200,000 people came to see the cauldron. At that time, it was only meant to be temporary. Now, it has been rebuilt with stronger materials to last through wind, rain, and heat.
