If you frequent the southern Shreveport area, you may have noticed hot air balloons populating the troposphere during your morning commute to work last week. This was due to the 51st National Hot Air Balloon Championship was held the week of 10 July 2017.
The competition week began with a reception held at the Margaritaville Paradise Theater where competitors, planners, sponsors, and media attended. Of these competitors, seventeen were title holding pilots. Six held world champion titles.
With such a large event, over seventy sponsors were used to put on the event, including representatives from Cumulus Media who had a hand in planning the actual Red River Balloon Rally concert which hosted acts such as Rodney Adkins and For King and Country. Along with smaller, local acts Ole Whiskey Revival, Alive By Sunrise, Freedom Church Band and Cypress Praise Band.
During the rally, patrons could explore the spacious event space sponsored by Louisiana State University in Shreveport. Lining the perimeter were local vendors such as Whataburger and LSUS. There was also a kids zone with games, small carnival rides, and a rock-climbing wall. For the more adventurous at heart, Bossier Parish Community College sponsored tethered hot air balloon rides. Then, the night would end with the balloon glow and a firework show.
If you missed this year’s balloon rally, do not fear for the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission will host the final year of its three-year bid with the Balloon Federation of America and the National Hot Air Balloon Championship next year.
