LIFT OFF
EnjoyMore In
America’s Most
AfordableCity . Bring A Big Suitcase!
( You just may not want to leave. )
Set against a centuries-old backdrop of storied history, “The Little Easy” has always captured the hearts of visitors. Today, while embracing the uniqueness and diversity—of our past and present—we march toward a bright future. New Businesses and Jobs. Hot Real Estate. Investment in Parks, Healthcare, and Infrastructure. Workforce Training. New Cruise Line docks. A blooming Movie industry. Year-round Festivals. And a Social Calendar that never sleeps. So whether it’s a short trip or a permanent stay, we’re ready to welcome you to Natchez!
Dan M.Gibson Mayor of Natchez
SPOTTING GUIDE
MORE THAN 40 balloons are slated to compete in the 2024 Natchez Balloon Festival. Let the images of balloons along the bottom of the following pages be your handy guide to the race. How many balloons can you spot?
BLAKE ALDRIDGE COLLEGE STATION, TX
FRANK ANGER BELDEN, MS
CORY BLOOM INDIANOLA, IA
JAYSON BARNHILL LONGVIEW, TX
LONGVIEW, TX
Look up !
Go ahead, look up! And get ready to be amazed.
Another year of hot air balloons, music food and fun is here.
Natchez is celebrating its 39th annual Natchez Balloon Festival, an event that draws thousands of visitors from across the country and abroad.
The balloons are, of course, the main attraction. This year more than 40 pilots and their balloons will be on hand.
Because weather conditions must be perfect for flying, times and locations for takeoff are typically scheduled an hour or so before each flight.
The slightest bit of rain, too much wind or a day that is too hot can keep hot air balloons grounded. Balloon flights are scheduled to occur around 7:30 a.m. and around 4 p.m. each morning and evening on Friday, Oct. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 20. A balloon glow is scheduled to take place at 6:45 p.m. Friday at the festival site at Rosalie Mansion, provided there is favorable weather. Stick around for the whole weekend for the best chance to see balloons flying.
Throughout the weekend, there is usually at least one competition flight.
During this flight, pilots attempt to follow the Balloon Meister’s flight path— that is the first pilot to take off—as closely as possible and land a bean bag on a target placed in a location of the Balloon Meister’s choosing.
LEWISVILLE, TEXAS
BROSSETT, GARY
BILL CUNNINGHAM MEMPHIS, TENN.
BILL BUSSEY
LONGVIEW, TX
Festival
The weekend isn’t just about the balloons.
Activities start on Thursday, Oct. 17, with the Live at Five free music event at the bandstand on the Natchez Bluff.
Friday night’s balloon glow also includes a fireworks show, a sure delight for all ages.
The festival itself, featuring live music, food and a variety of vendors, will take place Friday, Oct. 18 and Saturday, Oct. 19, on the grounds of Rosalie Mansion.
Performers include The Chee Weez, The Lincoln Outfit, Taj Farrant, The Heartshakers, Eric Gales and headliner Chapel Hart on Saturday evening.
The Natchez Balloon Festival also includes an arts and crafts fair, located just inside the festival gates near Broadway and Orleans streets.
There are also activities for children to enjoy, such as balloon animals, face painting and a photo booth.
Speaking of activities children enjoy, there are also carnival rides and games outside the festival site
to the carnival rides and games are sold separately at the carnival site on South Broadway Street.
Tickets to the festival are $20 for a Friday-only pass; $35 in advance for a Saturday pass or $40 at the gate; and $40 in advance for a weekend pass or $50 at the gate. Children 10 years old and younger may attend for free.
VIP tickets are also available, which provide access to the Cappy Stahlman Sponsor and VIP tent overlooking the Mississippi River with an open bar on Friday, private cash bar on Saturday, tables and chairs and air-conditioned restrooms. The weekend VIP pass also includes a dinner in the tent on Friday night. Saturday VIP passes are $125 in advance or $155 at the gate. Weekend VIP passes are $325 in advance or $375 at the gate.
There is no festival site on Sunday. However, weather permitting, balloons will lift off on Sunday morning and afternoon. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Historic Natchez Foundation, located at 108 S. Commerce St. or online at natchezballoonfestival.com.
TICKETS
takes place on the grounds of
Times are approximate and subject to change. Balloons will fly weather permitting.
Ages 11 & above
FRIDAY — $20
SATURDAY — $40 WEEKEND PASS — $50
VIP Passes
SATURDAY — $155
WEEKEND — $375
THE FESTIVAL
Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens on Broadway Street in Natchez.
WYNN GUSTAFSON ARDEN HILLS, MIN.
JOSHUA GOLL LONGVIEW, TX
JOHN GOOD PRAIRIEVILLE, LA
WILLIAM DAVIS HELENA, AL
BRANDON HEAVIN DRURY, TX
PERRY HASSON MADISON, MS
CHRIS HEIDELBAUER MARION, IA
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, OCT. 18
•Morning balloon flight times and place to be determined
• Afternoon balloon flight times and place to be determined
• 4 p.m., gates open
• 6:45 p.m. Balloon
Glow at festival site
• 7:45 p.m. Fireworks
• 8 p.m. The Chee Weez
SATURDAY, OCT. 19
• Morning balloon flight times and place to be determined
• 11 a.m., gates open
• 12:30 p.m. The Lincoln Outfit
• 2 p.m. Taj Farrant
• Afternoon balloon flight times and place to be determined
• 3:30 p.m. The Heartshakers
• 5:30 p.m. Eric Gales
• 7:30 p.m. Chapel Hart
SATURDAY, OCT. 20
• Morning balloon flight times and place to be determined
MUSIC LINEUP
The 2024 Natchez Balloon Festival introduces artists both new to the festival and returning favorites to delight the ears of festival goers.
This year’s headlining act is Chapel Hart, a country music vocal group from Poplarville that rose to stardom after its debut on the 17th season of America’s Got Talent in 2022.
After wowing judges with their original song inspired by Dolly Parton, “You Can
Have Him Jolene,” judges granted the second group Golden Buzzer in show history allowing the singers to advance immediately to the second round of the competition. They advanced to the final round and were eliminated in the fifth-place position. It was before the show aired that the group was scheduled to perform in Natchez and their success came as a pleasant surprise to festival organizers and generated more excitement for the festival.
THE CHEE-WEEZ
8 P.M. FRIDAY, OCT. 18
The Chee-Weez are a 5 piece tribute/show band that specialize in making sure you have a great time and leave with a smile. With an everexpanding stage show including video walls, lights, lasers, and pyro, to the off-the-cuff antics, you never know what you’ll see next at the Chee- Weez show! But be warned…you will be entertained!
tribute act. (Afros and platform shoes included). But on a random night in a smokey bar room sometime in 1998, the boys decided to throw a dash of Bon Jovi and pinch of Journey into the mix to see how the audience responded, and the rest, as they say…is history!
THURSDAY, OCT. 17
Before the balloon festival officially begins, Live@Five at the Natchez bandstand will include live music and a couple of balloons standing for an evening glow if the weather allows starting at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17.
FRIDAY, OCT.18
The balloon festival kicks off right down the street at Rosalie with “The Chee-Weez” performing at 8 p.m. Described by long time Natchez Balloon Festival volunteer Curtis Moroney as a “fun party” tribute band, the CheeWeez got its start in 1997 as a garage band in New Orleans with a disco tribute act and later added classic rock, ‘80s hair metal, a “dash of Bon Jovi and a pinch of Journey into the mix.”
Formed in 1997 in a garage just outside New Orleans, LA., The Chee-Weez began life as a disco
The Chee- Weez are about fun. It’s about having a good time with your closest friends, laughing, smiling, and of course, enjoying the party The Chee-Weez strive to bring each and every time they step on stage. The Chee-Weez are about bringing an arena rock show to the masses, while still keeping the audience involved at each and every turn. This is The Chee-Weez.
Their ever-expanding stage show includes video walls, lights, lasers, pyrotechnics and off-the-cuff antics — so their audience will never know what to expect but can expect to be entertained.
SPOTTING GUIDE
KEN JOHNSTON CANTON, MS
KEVIN HEINZMANN, SANDOVAL, IL
GARY JONES DIAMONDHEAD, MS
GARY ODOM DESTIN, FLORIDA
EILEEN JONES DIAMONDHEAD, MS
SATURDAY, OCT. 19
Beginning at 12:30, hailing from Natchez and other parts of south Mississippi, is The Lincoln Outfit. Following that is Taj Farrant at 2 p.m., a 2019 star of Australia’s Got Talent who blew judges away with his guitar playing skills at 9 years old, Moroney said.
“He is spectacular, and man can this guy play,” Moroney said.
Then at 3:30 p.m. is “The Heartshakers,” Nashville’s premiere Tom Petty tribute band that has shared stages with Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes and Amy Grant among other big stars in the industry.
Eric Gales of Memphis, Tennessee, another guitarist who got his start as a child prodigy, goes on at 5:30 p.m. He is known for blues rock and was taught in the styles of Jimi Hendrix, Albert King, B.B. King and others.
At 7:30 p.m., Chapel Hart will wrap up the Balloon Festival as the final music act before Sunday morning activities.
THE LINCOLN OUTFIT
12:30 P.M. SATURDAY, OCT. 19
The Lincoln Outfit is an Americana band hailing from South Mississippi, formed in mid-2022 with the intention of crafting their own distinctive
sound. Drawing from their shared musical influences, the band members, who all have backgrounds in singing and songwriting, have developed a strong emphasis on vocal performance, resulting in tight harmonies and an immersive musical experience that transports listeners to another realm of emotion and connection.
WALT RUDY WADSWORTH, OH
JOEL JONES SEALE, AL
ERIK MERIDIAN KIEHLE
COLTON KRAUSE GREENWELL SPRINGS, LA
MUSIC LINEUP
THE HEARTSHAKERS A TOM PETTY EXPERIENCE
3:30 P.M.
SATURDAY, OCT. 19
The Heartshakers are Nashville’s premier Tom Petty Tribute. The show is performed by some of the industry’s first call musicians in the music business today! These musicians have performed with Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, Amy Grant, Peter Cetera, Little Big Town, SheDaisy and Ronnie Milsap. They have brought their love of Tom Petty’s music and put together the best tribute band that could be assembled! The Heartshakers deliver an experience you won’t forget! Take a walk back in time reliving American Rock-and-Roll at it’s finest.
SPOTTING GUIDE
TAJ FARRANT
2 P.M. SATURDAY, OCT. 19
Taj Farrant may be young but his natural musical ability surpasses his age. One AC/DC concert with his Dad and seeing Angus Young do his thing was the catalyst for Taj to say “I want to do that forever”. He got a guitar and the rest, as they say is history.
This down to earth Aussie kid is more than passionate about playing guitar and is clearly a natural born rocker through and through. Taj is fortunate to have a very supportive family, helping guide and
encourage his passion, with freedom and balance to enjoy playing and perfect his techniques while still enjoying kid stuff too. Taj has already picked up some huge endorsements world wide.
As a guitarist Taj has that truly genuine ‘feel’ when he plays, with technique and soul well beyond his years (he’s 15 now, started playing when he was 7). With Taj’s online presence growing fast and being featured on the Ellen DeGeneres show and Australia's Got Talent, Taj has also been blessed to share the stage with some world class artist such as Carlos Santana, Rob Thomas, Orianthi, Joe Bonamossa, Buddy Guy and many more, strap in and hold on … this is Taj Farrant!
BOB PULASKI PINEVILLE, ALA.
DAMIEN RISTANIO MONROE, NC
COLLIN MCCLUNG LONGVIEW, TX
LYNN MCVAY TRENTON, MO
RUSTY MILLER ATMORE, AL
ALLAN MUIR HOUSTON, TX
CHAPEL HEART
7:30 P.M. SATURDAY, OCT. 19
Chapel Heart has brought a taste of the South to audiences around the world—and everyone is craving more! Made up of sisters Danica and Devynn Hart along with first cousin Trea Swindle, these three southern belles from the state of Mississippi have taken the country music industry by storm. Chapel Hart was inducted into the 2021 Class of CMT’s Next Women of Country. The trio has a natural ability to make people join together in song and dance and in their live performances. They often note music's incredible power to unite people of all nationalities, religions, and walks of life. The ladies will often treat the audience to three- part harmony and acapella arrangements that range from energetic and playful to emotional and chilling. Chapel Hart has entertained people from all over the world, and the decision is always unanimous, there’s no experience quite like the Chapel Hart experience!
ERIC GALES
5:30 P.M. SATURDAY, OCT. 19
Eric Gales is an American blues rock guitarist, originally hailed as a child prodigy. Gales picked up the guitar at age four. His older siblings, Eugene and Manuel taught him songs and licks when he was young, in the style of Jimi Hendrix, Albert King, B.B. King and others. In 1985, the young Gales began to play at blues competitions with his brother Eugene backing him on bass. Although Gales plays a right-handed guitar "upside-down" (with the bass E string on the bottom), he is not naturally left-handed; he was taught by his brother, who is left-handed, and never second-guessed the nontraditional technique.
He has an overdriven tone melding hard rock- and R&Binfused blues licks that display his distinctly modern approach to the guitar. As both an African-American left-handed guitarist of extraordinary ability and an expressive vocalist, it is natural for people to compare Eric to Hendrix but Eric has developed a unique hybrid blues/rock sound that also draws upon diverse influences. A unique amalgam of styles, Eric Gales stands head and shoulders among other guitarists in his genre.
RICHARD SABIN HENDERSON, TEXAS
JOEY SCARPINATTO KARNACK, TX
Pretty Pink&
Gaines joins hot air ballooning community as female pilot
MIKE WAHL DECATUR, ALA.
JAMES STANTON FULTON, MS
DALE TIBODEAU CONROE, TX
ERIC WIGGINS GREENVILLE, MS
GARY WHITBY COLUMBIA, MO.
Kay Gaines, who had never been in a hot air balloon until the winter of 2019, earned her official pilot’s license on July 23 after 10 months of practicing, studying, flying and finally passing her first check ride.
Gaines has been at the Natchez Balloon Festival the past few years but until this year worked as her husband Jason’s crew chief. She returns this year as a pilot of her own balloon, a hot pink one called “Tickled Pink.”
“We were at an event in Fishers, Indiana and Jason was doing a flight and asked me to go with him,” Gaines said. “He was like ‘Do you want to fly this morning?’ Before that day I never found much interest in it. I’d inflated several times and I had flown once before but he would always have to tell me when to burn. I’d never landed before.”
During this particular ride in Fishers, Indiana, in 2023, Gaines got to land the balloon for the first time by herself. The feeling gave her adrenaline. For the first time, Gaines said she got the sense that she wanted to learn to fly and land all on her own, without her husband telling her what to do.
“I looked at him and said I wanted to learn to do this,” she said.
While Gaines had no interest in learning to fly until that first landing, she vividly remembers her first hot air balloon ride back home in O’Fallon, Missouri.
“I was nervous at first because I didn’t know what the feeling would be like at takeoff, but once we were finally up it was amazing,” she said. “Some areas still had snow on them and it was magical. I’d always said I didn’t want to focus on flying. I wanted to enjoy the views. Now I know you can do both. I’m still hyperfocused on my instruments but I’m also able to enjoy it.”
Once Gaines determined that she wanted to get her pilot’s license, she “hit the ground running,” she said. It had been 10 months from her first flying lesson that Gaines earned her license.
That time had been filled with lots of studying, early mornings and late nights.
Thankfully, being a hot air balloonist involves being part of a community of friends who are willing to help out a new pilot.
“I asked so many pilots different questions,” she said. “I did 35 training hours — which you only need 10 but most pilots get more than that. The most difficult part of the process is learning ‘the feel.’ That’s ‘the feel’ in quotes because that is what every pilot tells you when you ask ‘How do you know when to burn?’ It’s always ‘the feel.’ I’m learning the feel of my balloon. You just know.”
Each hot air balloon is a little different in its feel, Gaines said. Her husband’s balloon, for instance, is a lot larger than hers at 105,000 cubic feet. Her balloon, Tickled Pink, is 84,000 cubic feet.
“It belonged to Mike Nelson, one of Jason’s best pilot friends. He had passed away from cancer in 2016. His daughter, Lita, had his balloon and got her license. Shortly after, she became pregnant with twins. The life of being a mother and business owner didn’t leave her time to fly so I became the temporary owner and began the discussion of buying it.”
Nelson used to be made fun of in the ballooning community for his bright pink balloon, which was the only balloon he was able to get at the time.
He used to say “I’m just tickled pink to even have a balloon,” and that’s how Tickled Pink got its name, Gaines said.
“I was never able to meet Mike but always wished I could have,” she said. “I know he was big into the sport and big into educating people about ballooning and inflating Tickled Pink for children in school. He was an incredible person and it’s an honor for me to continue flying his balloon.”
Gaines’ most exciting ride in Tickled Pink was her first solo ride, which is required before she could have her check ride and earn her license to fly passengers.
“I was so nervous but once I got up there I just thought, ‘I’m
doing it,’” she said. “It’s amazing to be able to accomplish that and put everything I was able to learn in all those months into flying. It was a great accomplishment.”
Scott Wooge was Gaines’ examiner during her check ride, which first involves and oral exam on the ground before another oral exam up in the air while flying.
“They will give you certain instructions on what you have to do ... and ask you about all kinds of scenarios to make sure you will be a safe pilot and make the safest decision.”
Landing the balloon is one of the most difficult parts of flying, she said.
“I always feel more at ease when I’m high up in the air. Higher up is more relaxed and safer, but coming down for a landing you cannot make a mistake. I become hypervigilant when landing.”
Gaines said her husband has
been her biggest support through the whole process.
“He gave up so many flight hours for me, let me steel his crew and has always been supportive in pushing me not to give up,” she said. “I’ve accomplished a lot of things that I’m proud of. I’m a mother, a marine, a nurse, a business owner and now I can say I’m a hot air balloon pilot.”
While hot air ballooning has never been a common sport, there has always been a disproportionate number of male pilots to female pilots. Generally, the hot air ballooning community is comprised of older men and they are becoming fewer and fewer, she said.
Gaines said she is glad to join what she feels is a growing number of female hot air balloon pilots.
“I’ve noticed more coming into the sport and a lot of females becoming pilots. It’s really cool to count myself
among them,” she said. “Just in our community in O’Fallen there are four female pilots total, including myself, who are actively flying. And they’re all younger. I’m the eldest of them at 38.”
Does it take a certain type of person to become a pilot?
“You have to have a drive and
passion to want to do it,” she said. “You have to be able to multitask for sure — paying attention to what is happening around you, listen to your burners, know your fuel levels, and make sure passengers are in the right position for take-off and landings.”
