NATCHEZ — For Natchezians, a big part of attending the Great Mississippi Balloon Race is wearing it.

Natchez native and artist Will Smith of New Orleans submitted art again this year, which was selected as the iconic balloon race image that will grace T-shirts and posters.

The watercolor and ink illustration features the capital of a column on Stanton Hall, with balloons rising in the background.

“I snuck out on the front porch Stanton Hall and photographed one of those beautiful capitals on a column,” Smith said. “In the background are balloons rising above the oak trees.”

Smith said his submission for the 2010 race was chosen as well, it pictured the dome of Longwood, with balloons rising behind the dome.

“It’s the same idea,” Smith said. “It’s not the house, but an element of it, which symbolizes the beauty of Natchez.”

Beginning Monday, souvenir enthusiasts floated into the Historic Natchez Foundation on Commerce Street to take a look at the art and load up on T-shirts, tickets, posters, hats and more.

New balloon race items available this year include iPhone totes, canvas tote bags and long-sleeved, embroidered denim shirts for men and women.

There are also drink huggies, pens, lapel pins, magnets, Mardi Gras-type necklaces, slap bracelets, visors and balloon race posters from previous years.

Smith said his designs have been chosen as official balloon race art for six years now, though not consecutively.

“As a kid, I kept a bike a grandma’s house on High Street, four doors down from Stanton Hall,” Smith said. “I rode my bike all over. Memories from childhood fueled the inspiration for the balloon posters.”

Patricia Ketchings, director of education at the Historic Natchez Foundation, said the posters are collectible items. Because the balloon race is in its 26th year, she said people are literally running out of space to display their posters, so a new, smaller size is available this year in 11 inches by 17 inches.

The Historic Natchez Foundation will be open week days for balloon race memorabilia sales, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. The balloon race will be Oct. 14-16.

Shirts of all sizes, from babies to large adults, are available, as well as long-sleeved T-shirts and sweatshirts. A few leftover shirts from the 2010 race are available at a discounted price.

Ketchings said people clamor for balloon race art and shirts because it’s like holding on to a piece of the race forever.

Sue Loy, who came ready to shop at the Historic Natchez Foundation Tuesday, agreed. She was snatching up shirts for her daughter Hannah, who recently moved to Washington, D.C., to work for a congressman, and will miss the balloon race for the first time.

“Having grown up in Natchez, and being in Washington, she can’t come home for the balloon festival,” Loy said, her arms draped with shirts. “I’m going to see her Thursday, and I wanted to surprise her by taking a shirt. It’s like bringing the balloon race to her. But since she’s in Washington, I’m thinking long sleeves.”

Ketchings said posters will be numbered by the artist. She added that artists who would like to submit balloon race art are encouraged to do so, not just when October approaches, but throughout the year.

“Anyone can submit an idea,” Ketchings said. “William’s was just the most popular this year. We had other good ideas. We want to encourage people to submit their designs, and we do pay for the winning design.”

Mimi Miller, executive director of the Historic Natchez Foundation, emphasized that art selection is not a competition.

Backup art can be purchased by the foundation throughout the year, even if it doesn’t wind up as the official image.

“Just bring the art by at any point in time,” Miller said. “We’d love to have it.”

All of the proceeds raised by tickets and memorabilia sales go back into a balloon race rainy day fund, to pay the bands and pilots, and also pay local nonprofit groups to work the event.

“This is really done for the community,” Ketchings said.