DECATUR — “Up, up and away
“My beautiful, my beautiful balloon”
So sang the Fifth Dimension in their 1960s hit “Up, up and Away.”
On Memorial Day weekend, more than 50 beautiful balloons will fill the sky above Decatur in the annual Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic
In Point Mallard Park along the Tennessee River, this must-see event of North Alabama features hot air balloons, live music, a balloon glow, antique cars and tractors, motorcycles, arts and crafts, fireworks and other family fun with activities on the ground and, of course, in the air – including tethered balloon rides.
The Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic has become a Memorial Day weekend tradition since 1978. The celebration begins bright and early at 6:15 a.m., May 28 with the Hound and Hare balloon race – the oldest hot-air balloon race in the Mid-South. Here, one balloon flies off the Jubilee field and the others try to follow to see which pilot can get closest to a target put down by the hare balloon.
Saturday’s activities include an antique and classic auto expo from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. behind the Ice Complex and the popular Decatur Art Guild arts and crafts show from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the pavilion.
The Bikers for Charity motorcycle show will also take place Saturday next to T.C. Almon Recreation Center with registration from 7:30 to 10 a.m. The Southland Flywheelers will host an antique tractor show, featuring some of the best restored and maintained tractors in the Southeast, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. A tractor parade follows at 10 a.m. and, at 11 a.m., there will be tractor games and a pedal tractor park opens for kids 6 years old and under.
An afternoon hot-air balloon flight is set for 5:15 p.m. and the day’s festivities are highlighted at 8:15 p.m. with the Balloon Glow which features towering balloons of all colors light up Point Mallard Park.
Another round of friendly competition for the hot-air balloon pilots will be May 29 with the Lynn Layton Chevrolet Key Grab. Balloons should start flying into the Jubilee field starting about 7 a.m.
The Decatur Art Guild arts and crafts show reopens from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., offering festivalgoers plenty of time to shop for handmade items in between the balloon activities. Another fun flight is set to launch about 6:30 p.m.
Bands will perform on stage both days at 7 p.m. and the two-day event concludes with the Alabama Jubilee Fireworks Spectacular at 9:30 p.m.
Admission to the Alabama Jubilee is free. Blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged. For safety reasons, pets are strongly discouraged due to the loud noise caused by the balloons and the large number of people present.
All balloon activities are weather permitting. Balloons do not fly, tether or glow in the rain or if wind on the ground is stronger than about 8 mph or if there are thunderstorms nearby. Also, Point Mallard Park is a “No-Drone Zone” during the Alabama Jubilee, according to FAA regulations.
All activities take place inside Point Mallard Park, a 750-acre municipal park providing year-round recreation facilities in Decatur.
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