"Hot air balloons soared over the town of Pereslavl-Zalessky near Moscow region on Tuesday, for the 21st 'Apples in the Snow' Aeronautics Festival. Footage shows the colourful balloons taking flight and pilots using burners to fill them with hot air. "This was my first flight. I've wanted to try flying for a very long time, and it’s been a dream of mine for years. Of course, I never imagined that my first trip would be in winter. I've been preparing and getting ready across different seasons, but I always looked forward to the New Year holidays. I’m absolutely delighted; I have so many impressions that it’s hard to put into words. It was a little nerve-wracking at first, but in the end, it was completely safe, very comfortable," said participant Tatiana. Meanwhile, pilot Andrei explained how the festival got its name. "The tradition dates back a long way, in Suzdal. We were on a sort of flight, discussing interesting ideas for the future, when the song 'Apples in the Snow' by [Russian singer Mikhail] Muromov started playing," he said. The event is part of the All-Russian Aeronautical Festival and runs until January 9."