The sky above Natchez will soon be decorated with hot air balloons, and live music will carry throughout the grounds of Rosalie Mansion. The 32nd annual Great Mississippi River Balloon Race will be held in Natchez October 20th-22nd at the historic Rosalie Mansion, on bluffs high above the Mississippi River.
What started in 1986 with just a few balloons in a field behind the Natchez Mall has now become one of the largest festivals in Southwest Mississippi. It all began with a lunch between James Biglane, Cappy Stahlman, and Ron Riches. Biglane and Stahloman shared their balloon experiences with Riches and suggested that Natchez should have a balloon race. The first race was held six weeks later.
Now in its 32nd year, the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race will include a carnival, live music, arts and crafts booths, and of course, good eats. Local vendors will serve up regional culinary treats and classic fair foods, plus there will be an Oktoberfest-style bier garden, called Blufftoberfest, featuring a variety of regional craft beers.
This story is from the October/November 2017 edition of Eat Drink Mississippi.
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This story is from the October/November 2017 edition of Eat Drink Mississippi.
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DIVIAN CONNER is a Mississippi mama of four ‘not so little’ little ones. Coming up with recipes, trying new ones, and feeding her crew of tweens and teens is her passion. Southern recipes, easy recipes, sorta hard recipes, but always delicious recipes is what you will find on her food blog, www.divianlconner.com. Now venturing into outdoor cooking over an open fire, Divian is fascinated with camp cooking and entertaining.
