During Memorial Day weekend you may want to have your eyes towards the heavens. You’ll find the Alabama sky fill up with all the colors of the rainbow with over 60 hot-air balloons. This annual flying of the hot air balloons is known as The Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic. The event takes place in Decatur, Alabama around the grounds of Point Mallard every Memorial Day weekend since 1978.
A Hot Air Balloon History
The story goes that the City of Decatur purchased their first hot-air balloon years prior but had no one to fly it for them. The salesman that sold the city the hot-air balloon agreed to train some pilots to fly the city’s new balloon. The news spread fast across other southern states and soon other balloonists and pilots were flocking to Decatur to participate in the balloon races. Thus, the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic was born.
Decatur is the “Ballooning Capital of Alabama” and has been named one of the top 20 tourist attractions in the southeast.
Tips for a Fun Weekend
The best time to arrive for the balloon races is before 6:00AM for the morning flights (which starts at 6:30am) and again at 5:00pm for evening flights (which takes off at 5:30pm). View the complete weekend’s schedule on the Alabama Jubilee website. Save even more time by parking at GE or Wolverine Park and ride a shuttle for $1 per person per trip.
Please note, and for obvious reasons, all hot air balloon events are weather permitting. Winds over 10 mph or rain will cancel all flights.
Want to get up close and personal with the balloons? The Alabama Jubilee welcomes the public to get involved in walking the fields and asking pilots questions.
If you are really looking to be part of the show, you might want to consider getting in with the crewing portion of the event. It takes several people to launch a balloon and some of the pilots will need some help from the local people. They do request that you be 18 years or older.
The Races
The Alabama Jubilee consists of two different races: Saturday morning will set off the “hare & hound” race where the balloons have to follow a target and drop beanbags onto the target. For the Sunday morning event, the balloons will race into the field attempting to grab a ring from the top of a tall pole.
Both Saturday and Sunday evenings the balloons will light up the sky with a balloon glow and free tethered rides will also be offered.
While the balloon racing is the main event for the Alabama Jubilee, you will also enjoy food and retail vendors as well as other activities. Want to bring your own food and drink? Not a problem! Coolers are welcome! Daily entertainment will feature some local bands with a wide variety of musical genres. Find a complete schedule of events on the Alabama Jubilee website.
With any good old-fashioned southern festival, the annual Fireworks Spectacular will close the Alabama Jubilee on Sunday night.
Even More Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic
- Visit the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic website
- Find Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic on Facebook
- Follow Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic on Twitter
Event Information: Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic
Dates and Times:
- Saturday, May 25, 2013, 6:30am – 10pm
- Sunday, May 26, 2013, 6:30am – 10pm
Location: Point Mallard Park
Cost: FREE!
Guest blogger for We Are Huntsville. Are you interested in writing a post for our site? Email katelyn@wearehuntsville.com.
I’ve known about this about never made it before. Actually, I just thought it was a bunch of balloons taking off. It’s cool to discover that they run courses like that. It might make a great trip for a teenagerless weekend. 🙂
Winds of 10mph or more may delay or cancel flights and, of course, rain will call everything off.
Please note that the balloons are not inflated and hanging around the field all day. Flights are at 6:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. – traffic can be a problem, so please arrive a good bit earlier than that. You can park at GE or Wolverine Park and ride a shuttle for $1 per person per trip.
Evening can be spectacular, with part of the balloons flying and part offering tethered rides. The Sunday night glow is awesome. Bring lawn chairs. Food and drink can be purchased but coolers are allowed, too.
Hi Cathy! This is Larkin Grant, Our Valley Events’ Digital Media Wizard. Thanks for the updated information. We’re making the changes to the post now. Looking forward to a weekend of ballooning fun!