EYES ON THE SKIES!

Hot Air Balloon Festival takes flight next month

TheGulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival will take to the skies over Baldwin County next month, offering exciting sights and entertainment that attendees of all ages can enjoy.

For the third year in a row, the festival will be held at the OWA Parks and Resort, which has made it possible for a bigger crowd to enjoy a three-day schedule full of live entertainment, festival foods, arts and crafts vendors and of course, its main attraction: the hot air balloons.

More than 50 hot air balloons and their crews from around the country will be a part of the event. The festivities will kick off with a balloon glow at OWA on Thursday, May 4. The festival will be open to the public from Friday, May 5, through Saturday, May 6.

As always, balloon flights and displays are weather-dependent. If you want to catch a glimpse, get an early start and look to the skies at dawn, or hope for ideal weather conditions to see the balloons in flight at dusk.

Among the balloons that will be a part of the festival is the Touchstone Energy Balloon, the most visible mascot of the national brand association representing more than 700 electric cooperatives in 46 states, including Baldwin EMC.

For more details on the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, including a complete schedule, parking info and tips on how to make the most of your experience, go to gulfcoastballoonfestival.com or contact The South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce at (251) 943-3291.

You can also get updates and sneak peeks of festival happenings by following Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.