NATCHEZ — Organizers gearing up for the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race say success is critical this year to ensure the event lifts off in years to come.

Some changes have been made to this year’s event to help that happen, including an increase in sponsorship cost as well as a more coordinated effort with the City of Vidalia.

Balloon race executive director Babs Price said poor weather conditions in 2013 resulted in fewer attendees and put future races in jeopardy.

“We do have enough money to pay for this year’s event in our rainy day fund, but we need this year’s event to start helping us fund the next few,” Price said. “If we have another rainout, we’ll be busted.”

Rain on the first night of the 2013 event resulted in a $10,000 decrease in gate proceeds with corresponding decreases in beverage and logo sales, she said.

Organizers have purchased rain insurance before, Price said, but found it is difficult to collect and a poor investment because it requires a certain amount of rain in a certain span of time in a certain designated place.

“So if it rains on the bluff, but not at the airport, we don’t get anything,” Price said. “It’s just not a good investment for us.”

The Balloon Race Committee has raised its sponsorship fee from $800 to $1,000 per balloon to help fund the various costs associated with the race — providing pilots with hotel rooms, fuel and prize money, among other things.

Assistant director Trevor Brown said the increased sponsorship cost is also coming with a greater push from committee members to get more local businesses and organizations involved.

“We’re really trying to get everyone to sort of buy in to what we’re trying to do and asking them to help us make sure this event is around for a really long time,” Brown said. “It’s the biggest weekend in Natchez, and we’re trying to stress that to the community that without their help in sponsoring the event, this won’t be possible.”

The event is nearing its 30th anniversary next year, which Brown said is a blessing and a curse.

“Not many events last that long, so it’s a testament to what everyone has done, but it also has people thinking we’re so successful that we don’t need money anymore,” Brown said. “The sponsorships are what keep us going year to year, so we’re wanting to let the community know that we need their help.”

Other changes to this year’s race include how the committee is interacting with events across the river on the Vidalia Riverfront.

Two years ago, balloon race committee members sat down with Vidalia leaders to discuss how the two cites could work together to make each other stronger.

The cities agreed not to have competing events in September or October and decided to take a more regional approach to the balloon race.

Last year, the balloon race committee put more balloons on the Vidalia riverfront for the annual Friday night balloon glow.

The committee will do that again this year, and Vidalia will continue to have a carnival and rides for children on the riverfront throughout the weekend.

Vidalia marketing director Sheri Rabb said the city has agreed to give a portion of the proceeds of the event to the balloon race for the first time.

“After we pay for the electricity and things like that, the city normally gave the money to charity, but this year we decided to help out the balloon race committee,” Rabb said. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to offer those events, so we want to make sure they can continue having the race.”

Rabb said access to activities on the riverfront would be free, but tickets will be sold for specific rides.

Rabb said representatives with Kids Party Palace in Natchez would also have inflatable jumpers, music and a gumbo cook-off.

The events, Rabb said, will not coincide with those on the festival grounds in Natchez.

“We’re not trying to do things that will take people off the site in Natchez, so everything will be around that schedule, and they will also give a portion of the proceeds to the balloon race,” Rabb said. “We’re trying to work with them and make this a more rounded thing for both sides instead of just this side and that side.”

Brown said he was pleased to see the two cities working together to produce plenty of entertainment and events for residents and visitors.

“We are called the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race and not the Natchez balloon race for a reason,” he said. “We’re very excited to have a presence over there as well, even though it’s not something we’re actually doing ourselves.”

This year’s race will be Oct. 17-19 with the festival grounds remaining on the grounds of Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens.

Ticket prices to the festival grounds, Brown said, will not be increased from last year.