On Friday evening the pilots of 19 hot air balloons, along with members of the Balloons Over 66 committee, city representatives, and county board representatives, helped kick off the weekend with a ribbon cutting ceremony held in the large open field at Open Arms Church.

Balloon committee chair Austin Hopp, with help from committee member Kathy Williams, snipped the ribbon to get the weekend started.


Photo Nila Smith

Friday night the main attraction at Open Arms Church was the beautiful glow of the cluster of hot air balloons gathered in the center of the large open field adjacent to the Hargrove Chapel.

While Friday evening crowds are always smaller than Saturday night, a large gathering of spectators waited patiently until the announcer shared that it was all right to walk among the balloons on the field.

Then, for approximately 30 minutes, the announcer called out at various times for the pilots to glow, long glow, flicker, or flicker to the music playing over the sound system.

Balloons will be returning to the field tonight (Saturday 8/29) for another lauch and glow.

Photo Nila Smith