Emma Throneberry, 9, of Hendersonville, Tenn., points as one of the balloons inflates on the lawn at the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens while watching the Balloon Glow Friday night with her family. View photo »

Brian Massey of Natchez, holds daughter Addison, 1, as she points to the balloons as they inflate during the Sunday afternoon balloon flight at the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens. View photo »

Pilot Glen Smith of Rossville, Tenn., reflects on the race that won him the first place prize in this years Great Mississippi River Balloon Race after the awards banquet at Grand Soleil Casino Resort Saturday. View photo »

Balloons inflate for the Sunday afternoon balloon flight at the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens. View photo »

Randy Graham of Stringer, holds granddaughter Madilyn Claire, 2, as a balloon inflates above them during the Sunday afternoon balloon flight at the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens. View photo »

A spectator waves at a balloon as it flies toward the sun over the Mississippi River during the Sunday afternoon balloon flight at the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens. View photo »

Bhumisht Jati, 4, of Natchez, and brothers Ethan, 5, and Evan, 2, Wilson of Vidalia, help spread out a balloon on the lawn at the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens during the Sunday afternoon balloon flight. View photo »

Dawn Denicola of Baton Rouge and son Christopher, 4, wait for the start of the Sunday afternoon balloon flight at the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens. View photo »

Justin Williams, 9, of Little Rock Ark., helps load a balloon into a bag after it landed near the Natchez Mall on John R. Junkin Drive during the Sunday morning balloon flight. View photo »

Spectators watch balloons pass from the lawn at Melrose during the Sunday morning balloon flight. View photo »

Sylvan Gremillion of Vidalia, holds granddaughter Caroline, 3, as they watch balloons come into land near the Natchez Mall on John R. Junkin Drive during the Sunday morning balloon flight. View photo »

Pilots Paul Lassalle of New Orleans, Ken Johnston and Joe McKay of Canton, and Tim Slattery of Jackson, check their coordinates before deciding whether or not to fly during the Sunday morning balloon flight. View photo »

Balloons lift off from the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens during the Sunday afternoon balloon flight. View photo »

The shadows of spectators decorate a balloon as it inflates on the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens during the Sunday afternoon balloon flight. View photo »

Pilot Stephen Guido prepares his basket as his crew inflates the balloon at the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens during the Sunday afternoon balloon flight. View photo »

The Texas Twist balloon piloted by Sam Edwards of Austin, Texas, lifts off from the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens during the Sunday afternoon balloon flight. View photo »

Anne Gates-Garner, 3, watches a balloon land near the Natchez Mall on John R. Junkin Drive during the Sunday morning balloon flight. View photo »

Chandler Jordan and daughter Ashlyn enjoy a tethered ride given to them by pilot Jon Friedrich of Gordonville, Mo., Sunday morning. A group from the area chapter Special Olympics were on the crew team for Friedrich's balloon this past weekend and as thanks Friedrich offered them free tethered rides. View photo »

Tony Gamberi and Chandler Warren enjoy a tethered ride given to them by pilot Jon Friedrich of Gordonville, Mo., Sunday morning. A group from the area chapter Special Olympics were on the crew team for Friedrich's balloon this past weekend and as thanks Friedrich offered them free tethered rides. View photo »

Pilot Stephen Guido of Natchez, receives the Steckler Award for this years Great Mississippi River Balloon Race during the awards banquet at Grand Soleil Casino Resort Saturday. View photo »

Special Olympian Haley Freeman waves to her mother who is being given a tethered hot-air balloon ride by pilot Jon Friedrich of Gordonville, Mo., Sunday morning. A group from the area chapter Special Olympics were on the crew team for Friedrich's balloon this past weekend and as thanks Friedrich offered them free tethered rides. View photo »

Anne Gates-Garner, 3, watches a balloon land near the Natchez Mall on John R. Junkin Drive during the Sunday morning balloon flight. View photo »

A balloon flies over Natchez National Historical Park during the Sunday morning balloon flight. View photo »

Pilot Wynn Gustafson of Arden Hills, Minn., flies his balloon over Natchez National Historical Park during the Sunday morning balloon flight. View photo »

Pilot Jim Birk of Defiance, Ohio, flies over John R. Junkin Drive near the Natchez Mall during the Sunday morning balloon flight. View photo »

Paxton Prestenbach, 9, of Chackbay, La., sifts through gravel to find hidden gems while shopping at the Flea Market on the Vidalia Riverfront Saturday afternoon with his family. View photo »

Festival goers fill the lawn at the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens for the Leon Russell concert Saturday evening during the Balloon Race Festival. View photo »

Leon Russell performs Saturday evening at the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens during the Balloon Race Festival. View photo »

Mandy and Brian Hoyle pose with daughter Isla Rosalie, 5 months old, whom they named after the antebellum home Rosalie. The family from Raleigh, N.C., pilots the balloon “Big Red.” View photo »

Brylee Young, 8, of Elizabeth, La., sits on her mother Redena Droddy’s lap while waiting for the balloons to fly over the bluff Saturday during the Balloon Race Festival. Due to strong winds, only one pilot flew a short distance over the festival site. View photo »

Ainsley Garrett, 7, of New Roads, La., holds hands with Cameron Stein, 8, of Ocean Springs while having a ride on the swings during the Balloon Race Festival at the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens Saturday afternoon. View photo »

Diana DeWeese of Tioga, La., and Sandra Palacío of New Orleans, La., cheer during the Leon Russell concert Saturday evening at the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens. View photo »

Gary Heavin flies his Curves balloon over the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens during the Balloon Race Festival Saturday. View photo »

Festival goers watch as pilots light up their balloons at the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens during the Balloon Race Festival Saturday eveni View photo »

Melvin Guillot Jr., 15, of Natchez, has his portrait drawn by artist Bonnie Lee Smith of Petal, Miss., during the Flea Market on the Vidalia Riverfront Saturday afternoon. View photo »

Landon Smith, 3, and brother Lawson, 2, both of Natchez, are pulled in their wagon by their grandfather through the Flea Market on the Vidalia Riverfront Saturday afternoon. View photo »

Newlyweds Travis and Shirley Martin of Jackson pose for a photo on a hot-air balloon basket after their wedding ceremony at Dunleith Friday afternoon. Shirley was a former crew member for a balloon pilot and decided that she wanted to incorporate balloons into their wedding. The original plan was to be married in the balloon while it hovered 20 to 40 feet off the ground, but due to strong winds those plans were canceled. “We wanted to do something different,” Travis said. View photo »

Madison Gaudet, 1, of Memphis, Tenn., sits on her father Nick’s shoulders and plugs her ears as pilots light up their balloons during the balloon glow on the bluff Friday evening. View photo »

A balloon takes shape during the balloon glow on the bluff Friday evening. View photo »

Ryan Lindsey, 8, watches in awe as pilots light up their balloons during the balloon glow on the bluff Friday evening. View photo »

Travis Martin helps wife Shirley, both of Jackson, onto the hot-air balloon basket while taking photos after their wedding ceremony at Dunleith Friday afternoon. Shirley was a former crew member for a balloon pilot and decided that she wanted to incorporate balloons into the wedding. The original plan was to be married in the balloon while it hovered 20 to 40 feet off the ground, but due to strong winds, those plans were canceled. “We wanted to do something different,” Travis said. View photo »

Travis and Shirley Martin of Jackson had a hot-air balloon basket set up at their wedding ceremony at Dunleith Friday afternoon. Shirley was a former crew member for a balloon pilot and decided she wanted to incorporate balloons into the wedding. The original plan was to be married in the balloon while it hovered 20 to 40 feet off the ground, but due to strong winds, those plans were canceled. “We wanted to do something different,” Travis said. View photo »

A balloon illuminates the Natchez night sky during the balloon glow on the bluff Friday evening. View photo »