Balloon Festival gives back to Community

March arrived and the days have flown by like the wind this month. It’s been a very productive month. But now the countdown begins for the arrival of April. Hopefully, it will bring warmer days

Last Wednesday, Collierville Rotary club member Dave Rylander came to speak to the Holly Springs Rotary club and spoke to members about the Collierville Balloon Festival. Also, Kirk Northcutt, Dick Wieland, and Roy Ray were guests from the Collierville Rotary Club.

This year, the Balloon Festival, September 15-17, plans to bring more than 20 or more hot air balloons. It is a fun-filled weekend for the whole family to enjoy. There is live music, food trucks, vendors, carnival rides, a kids zone, midway games, arts and crafts, a beer garden, entertainment and the opportunity to take a tethered balloon ride (weather permitting). They also have a limited number of hot air balloon rides.

Saturday and Sunday are open to the public, but Friday night is set aside for special needs children. It is called Friday Night Lights.

“It is a one-of-a-kind private event for special needs children and their families,” said Rylander.

He said last year, 350 families came to Friday Night Lights. “Our goal this year is 500 families,” said Rylander.

The Friday night event is for special needs children, but he said there is no age limit.

The Balloon festival is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday.

“We have weekend passes or daily tickets on sale,” Rylander said.

Susan Ewing is Chairman and President; Kirk Northcutt is the secretary, and Jennifer Bennett is treasurer of the 501c3 festival.

Community-minded volunteers and other clubs help make the festival happen by volunteering.

“Some volunteers include Collierville Vice Mayor Maureen Frazier, Town of Collierville court judge Lee Ann Dobson, Alston Construction General Manager Chad Lindsey and Rotary members,” said Rylander.

The Balloon Festival does not only provide a wonderful event for the whole family, but it gives back to local educational programs.

The festival board has been able to give back $100,000 to local educational programs since it began in June 2021.

At the end of the meeting, Rylander presented a $1,000 check to Holly Springs Rotary for local educational programs.

“We would like to invite Holly Springs Rotary members to come to the festival and some may want to volunteer,” said Rylander.

I can remember seeing my first hot aired balloon. It was on Memorial Day weekend several years ago. I had gone up for the first time in a private airplane. My little brother, Bobby Crawford, was the pilot. The plane took off from a grass field in Northwest Alabama before dusk. Once we were flying in the air, I noticed that much of the area was surrounded by creeks and rivers. Then I could see the five or six hot air balloons floating over the Tennessee River. What an beautiful experience.

If anyone or any clubs would like to volunteer or get a group together for Friday Night Lights, don’t hesitate to contact Dave Rylander at rhylanderdj@gmail.com.