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photo by Destiney Robb
Gina Cauthen holds Sarah Katherine Cauthen as she points to a balloon that is lifting off from the grounds of Adams County Christian School Saturday morning.
Winds have been picture perfect at race
Published Sunday, October 21, 2007
NATCHEZ — With sunny skies and a little luck, this year’s balloon race is shaping up to be nearly perfect, race officials said Saturday.
“I would say the festival is going excellent all the way around,” Pilot and Crew Coordinator Sally Durkin said. “Last year when we didn’t fly and this year flying every flight, there is no comparison. It’s been quite a few years since we’ve flown every flight.”
Last year, rain kept crowds away and balloonists grounded. But sun and calm breezes, the norm for the past few days and forecasted for today, mean all the difference, Durkin said.
“The weather’s been very cooperative,” she said. “We should fly every flight this weekend without problems.”
Fair skies meant bigger crowds, too. The event sold out of tickets and had to start selling armbands instead.
“So, we’re really pleased with the response we’ve gotten,” Durkin said.
At the festival grounds on the bluff, locals and visitors gathered to listen to the music and watch the balloons.
A group of four friends met up to enjoy the afternoon.
Cory Alexander and Summer Brignac drove from Alexandria, La., while Wendy Thomas and Ryan Boyd drove from Tylertown.
“We toured the houses in the spring, and they told us about it,” Alexander said. “We’re loving it.”
For Natchez residents Mary and Fred Emrick, the weekend was an opportunity to see family. Their son, Bert Emrick and his wife, Michelle, drove from Madison with their 1-year-old son Aaron.
“It was a fun weekend to come to town,” Bert Emrick said. “We both grew up here, and it was a chance to spend time with family.”
Mary Emrick said she was glad the weather was nice.
“The balloons have been fabulous,” she said. “We’re glad to be out enjoying the beautiful day.”
Fred Emrick said he was happy to see the grounds fill up.
“There have been good crowds,” he said. “I see a lot of tourists around, a lot of unfamiliar faces. That’s great.”
Crowds lined the bluffs to watch the bubbles of color drift along the river.
They also bought souvenirs. By Saturday afternoon, more than half the T-shirts ordered had been sold.
“(Friday) night was the best we’ve ever done on a Friday night,” Mimi Miller, director of vendor and logo sales, said. “And we made back the cost of printing before the site opened. It points out what good weather can do for you.”
A new factor that might have helped numbers was this year’s addition of a sports bar.
“We realized people were staying home to watch the games,” Miller said, just before a cheer erupted from the tent next door. “The sports bar has been full. I think we’ll keep it.”
Miller said the balloon race committee would likely put any money raised at this year’s event into building back up their rainy day fund. The balloons are scheduled to fly again at 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. today, weather permitting.
Comments
Posted by CitizenSane (anonymous) on October 21, 2007 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Balloon Race might be the one event in Natchez-Vidalia that brings us all together.
Congratulations to the forward-thinking folks at the Historic Natchez Foundation who created the event 22-years ago, the Balloon Race organizers, all the sponsors, all the volunteers and everyone in Natchez-Vidalia who cheers the balloonists on, even if they do it standing in their own front yards! All forms of support are important to the success of the event.
These wonderful balloonists are like pied pipers - they make us stop and look and follow their lead to the edge of the green bluff and the ferocious waters of the Mississippi.
The Balloon Race is an opportunity to celebrate NATURE and our good fortune to live in such a magnificent little piece of it.
We live above the greatest river in the world, on a 200 foot tall, ancient cliff, formed 1000s of years ago by windblown glacial dust from China.
Location, Location, Location! Ours is second to none.
See you at 4:30 today on the Bluff for the Isle of Capri Barge Drop - weather permitting, all of the balloons will be out over the river. A sight to behold. And - I wouldn't miss the fabulous Marcia Ball for anything!
Posted by darylwalker (anonymous) on October 21, 2007 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to say I’m very disappointed in the way the balloon glow was handled this year. I remember the past years where the balloons were lined up along the bluff and riverwalk were just anyone could come and view the balloons without having to give up that hard earned dollar. This year there were no balloons along the riverwalk, and the only ones on the bluff were hidden behind Rosalie where you had to PAY to get in. My view was one of people becoming money hungry and trying to figure out every way the can to take people’s money from them. Even the parking situation was sad. People that owned parking lots downtown were standing guard in their parking lots and CHARGING people up to $10.00 just to park their car in a parking lot that is free any other time of the year. I wound up spending $100.00 just to let my 2-year-old daughter enjoy the sights of the balloons. I was only lucky that this pay period allowed me a little extra cash. Many people in Natchez just don’t have that kind of money to spend on things like this. The balloon race is a great thing for Natchez, but I fear its becoming more geared towards the “high society” of Natchez instead of the community as a whole.
Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on October 21, 2007 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
congrats to Sally and co. for an amazing Ballon Race...not only was the festival site crowded but downtown Natchez was packed too....I wonder how the merchants did? It looked like there was steady business everywhere. One suggestion- next year it would be great if a couple of restaurants opened for breakfast Sunday morning (where were you, Mainstreet Marketplace?). I was downtown walking this morning and ran into at least 5 groups of tourists looking for breakfast. The Eola (which was packed) and City Cafe' were the only ones open. There were a LOT of people walking downtown.....maybe next year we can feed them. Otherwise, it has been a perfect event...GREAT JOB!!
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