Approximately 30 Hot Air Balloons are taking part in the Hopkins County Dairy Festival. Friday night the pilots and crews took advantage of the good conditions to take to the air. They plan to do so again Saturday following the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Ice Cream Freeze-off. The Freeze-off begins at 5:30 p.m. on the back lawn of Shannon Oaks Church. Balloons will lift following and the glow will begin as the sun sets.
Included on the passenger list of selected balloons were the Dairy Festival Queen contestants. Community volunteers assisted in preparing the envelopes for inflation. According to Carolyn McKinney, President of the Dairy Festival Board, there is a need for crew members Saturday evening to assist in preparing the balloons for flight.
Pilots for the balloons have varied backgrounds but the love of flight awakened their interest in hot air balloon flight.
