Great Mississippi River Balloon Race

THE GREAT MISSISSIPPI RIVER BALLOON RACE WAS HELD IN OCTOBER 2022 IN NATCHEZ, MS. THE FESTIVAL WAS OPEN TO AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE PUBLIC WAS PROVIDED WITH LEISURE ACTIVITIES WHICH INCLUDED BALLOON RIDES, RACE OBSERVATION, FESTIVAL ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD AND BEVERAGES, BALLOON GLOW AND FIREWORKS. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE PROVIDED TO MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHO WISH TO CONVERSE WITH BALLOON PILOTS AND CREWS TO LEARN ABOUT BALLOON FLIGHT PRINCIPLES AND HISTORY. PRIOR TO THE RACE WEEKEND VOLUNTEERS ARE RECRUITED FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO SERVE AS CREW MEMBERS FOR THE BALLOONS THAT COME FOR THE RACE. THESE VOLUNTEERS ARE PROVIDED CREW TRAINING PRIOR TO THE RACE WEEKEND.THE GREAT MISSISSIPPI RIVER BALLOON RACE IS ADVERTISED THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH AND THIS ADVERTISING PROMOTES TOURISM IN MISSISSIPPI AND NATCHEZ. THE RACE HAS RECEIVED NATIONWIDE RECOGNITION IN SOME TRAVEL AND LEISURE PUBLICATIONS AND THIS NATIONAL EXPOSURE HAS BENEFITED THE CITY OF NATCHEZ AND ITS CITIZENS.