The 38th annual Natchez Balloon Festival is set to kick off on Friday, October 20 with the two-day event scheduled to take place in downtown Natchez.
This year, festivalgoers will be invited to watch a live performance on Friday by Bag of Donuts, a New Orleans-based pop band that is widely known for wearing kabuki make-up and costumes. Lead vocalist, percussionist, and cowbell musician Bobby Hoerner will be in attendance, as well as Jonathan Hoerner, Jerry Christopher, Jr., Kevin George, Ian Smith, and Phil Morin.
The Natchez-originated band Elanore Swede is scheduled to open for the festival on Saturday with Kevin & The Blues Groovers to follow. The lineup will also feature musical performances by Fleetwood Mac tribute band Rumours, as well as The Suffers from Houston, Texas.
Headlining the final day of the festival is Sister Hazel, an alternative rock band from Florida that is best known for its 1997 hit “All for You.”
Tickets for the event are available for purchase on the Natchez Balloon Festival’s website. Weekend passes are priced at $35, while tickets for Friday are sitting at $15 per person. Those wishing to attend the festival on Saturday only can purchase tickets for $30 per person.
Here’s the full schedule of events for the festival:
Friday, October 20
- Morning Balloon Flight
- Afternoon Balloon Flight
- 4:00 p.m. – Gates Open
- 6:45 p.m. – Balloon Glow at Festival Site
- 7:45 p.m. – Fireworks
- 8:00 p.m. – Bag of Donuts
Saturday, October 21
- Morning Balloon Flight
- 11:00 a.m. – Festival Gates Open
- 12:30 p.m. – Elanore Swede
- 2:00 p.m. – Kevin & The Blues Groovers
- Afternoon Balloon Flight
- 3:30 p.m. – Rumors – A Fleetwood Mac Tribute
- 5:30 p.m. – The Suffers
- 7:45 p.m. – Sister Hazel
