{"id":2326,"date":"2017-06-06T22:47:57","date_gmt":"2017-06-06T22:47:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/have-kids-will-travel.com\/?p=2326"},"modified":"2017-06-20T02:07:19","modified_gmt":"2017-06-20T02:07:19","slug":"alabama-jubilee-hot-air-balloon-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/have-kids-will-travel.com\/index.php\/2017\/06\/06\/alabama-jubilee-hot-air-balloon-classic\/","title":{"rendered":"Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We look forward to going to the Alabama Jubilee\u00a0Hot Air Balloon Classic\u00a0every year.\u00a0It is a hot air balloon festival that is held\u00a0on Memorial Day weekend in Decatur, Alabama (right next to Point Mallard Water Park). The Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic<\/strong> <\/em><\/a>\u00a0features 60 balloons from around the United States and it’s a free event to the public.<\/p>\n

We like to get to the Jubilee early and make a day of it. Plus, the roads leading into the park are less crowded earlier in the day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Below, you can see our view at 11:00 a.m. and then you can see our view from the exact same spot at 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

\"Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We always bring a cooler with\u00a0a picnic lunch and lots of water. There are\u00a0several\u00a0food vendors and the smells coming from them are wonderful. If you get a craving for deep fried moon pies or shark on a stick (yes, you read that correctly), you will find a vendor who will make it for you.<\/p>\n

I’ve noticed, that for the last couple of years, the vendors use a ticket system. We’ve had to buy tickets at a special booth and then use the tickets to purchase food and drinks.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n

Above photos: These photos are from a few years ago. My kids would play in the bouncy houses and get their faces painted. Now that they are older, they would rather play baseball on the field.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At about 2:30 p.m., the DJ cranks up the music and a sea of people begin entering the field.\u00a0 You can watch kids form their own\u00a0soccer teams, parents playing Frisbee with their children, and teenage girls dancing to the music.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Between 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., trucks and vans carrying the hot air balloons begin driving onto the field and finding their designated spots. Then, sometime after 5:00 p.m., the balloons get filled will hot air and begin filling the field.<\/p>\n

Visitors are allowed to walk onto the field during the balloon inflation and launch.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Above: This photo is actually from a few years ago. The kids love being able\u00a0to get so up-close-and-personal with the balloons.\u00a0It’s exciting to watch\u00a0the (7-story tall) balloons being laid out on the field and then filled with hot air.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Above: Some balloons are released.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n

Above: If the weather is nice (and it isn’t too windy), some balloons are tethered to the ground and people can take a little ride in the hot air\u00a0balloons. The lines form quickly and they can\u00a0get really long. The ride is well worth the wait, especially for the kiddos. Riding in the balloons is the kids favorite part of the whole festival.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After dark, there is something called a Balloon Glow. The DJ\u00a0leads a countdown leading to all of the balloons being lit up. It is beautiful!<\/p>\n

\"Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Alabama Jubilee Events<\/h3>\n