NATCHEZ — Conditions are looking good for a lot of sore necks.

Great Mississippi River Balloon Race officials believe race spectators will spend a lot of the weekend looking up.

“The weather sounds great, and that makes me happy,” race Director Babs Price said. “I think everyone has had fingers crossed for that.”

Balloon race festivities get started with a Friday morning flight, weather permitting, shortly after 7 a.m.

Friday night the festival grounds open at 6 p.m. for the balloon glow, fireworks and music. Festival grounds are at Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens

Black Bayou will headline the Friday night music lineup and will take the stage at 8 p.m.

Price said the children’s carnival is already in town and setting up at the festival site, and visitors are expected to start filling the streets by Friday.

“A few hotels that had rooms they were holding have released those, and I’d be willing to bet those are already gone,” Price said.

Flights and festivities will be in full swing on Saturday. Two flights are planned. The morning flight will take off at approximately 7 a.m., and the Saturday afternoon barge drop flight should begin at approximately 3:30 p.m. Both flights are weather permitting.

The festival grounds will open at 11 a.m. Saturday and at noon on Sunday.

“Saturday will be our busiest day,” Price said. “All those day trippers who couldn’t get hotel rooms will come in Saturday morning.”

Saturday’s music will begin at noon with Y.Z. Ealey and continue all day. Ingram Hill will open for the Gin Blossoms at 7:30 p.m., and this year’s headliner will take the stage at 9:30 p.m.

Sunday is dedicated to country music fans, Price said. The day begins with the 7 a.m. flight, and music starts at 1 p.m. with Avery Michaels & Exit 209. Headlining country Sunday is Restless Heart, who will begin at 4:30. The afternoon hot-air balloon flight is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Weekend passes are $25 for those 13 and up and $8 for children 7 to 12. Friday night tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children. Saturday passes are $15 for adults and $5 for children. Sunday tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Children 6 and under are admitted free.

Flight updates are available through text message updates from The Natchez Democrat. To sign up for updates, go to www.natchezdemocrat.com and follow the registration link.

Flight updates will include available details about takeoff and landing locations and information about target locations.