Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic
Encyclopedia
Decatur, Alabama
Decatur is a city in Limestone and Morgan Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The city, affectionately known as "The River City", is located in Northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake, along the Tennessee River. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County...
. Each year the Jubilee hosts about 60 local and national hot-air balloons at Point Mallard Park
Point Mallard Park
Point Mallard Park is a park in Decatur, Alabama. It sits on of the Flint Creek shoreline. The park also borders the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge and is operated by the Decatur Parks and Recreation Board. The park is open 365 days a year, and is owned and operated by the City of...
.
Public admission is free of charge, and the weekend boasts many fun and exciting activities. Below just a partial listing of the many events that are part of each year's Jubilee:
- Fireworks Extravaganza
- Antique Tractor Show
- Classic Car Show
- Arts and Crafts
- Live Stage Entertainment
- Children’s Sports Area
- Food Court and Marketplace
- Children's Area
The Alabama Jubilee is unique in that it allows for the crowd of around 50,000 to mingle with pilots and crews, while 7-story tall balloons inflate and float overhead. The Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic consists of three different balloon events:
- A Hare & Hound Race
- A Balloon Glow
- and a Key Grab
History
The Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic, one of the oldest hot-air balloon races in the mid-South, started in Decatur, AL in 1978 with competition between 17 balloonists from AlabamaAlabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. It was a showcase for the new Decatur balloon, one of the first to represent a city, and an event to kick off Alabama's tourism season. The Jubilee now draws about 60 pilots from 20 states for three days of competition during the annual Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
holiday weekend.
"The Ballooning Capital of Alabama"
The continued popularity of the Alabama Jubilee prompted the Alabama Legislature to designate the City of Decatur as the “Ballooning Capital of AlabamaAlabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.”
The Jubilee has been named a Top 20 Tourism Event in the Southeast
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
for May by the Atlanta-based Southeast Tourism Society
Southeast Tourism Society
"The Southeast Tourism Society" , is a non-profit membership organization promotingtourism within the 12 Southeastern member states by sharing resources, fosteringcooperation, networking, providing continuing education, cooperative...
.
Location
The Jubilee is held on the grounds of Point Mallard ParkPoint Mallard Park
Point Mallard Park is a park in Decatur, Alabama. It sits on of the Flint Creek shoreline. The park also borders the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge and is operated by the Decatur Parks and Recreation Board. The park is open 365 days a year, and is owned and operated by the City of...
, a municipal recreation complex that offers a 35 acres (141,640.1 m²) water park featuring “America’s First Wave Pool,” (at the Point Mallard Aquatic Center), tennis courts, ball fields, hiking trails, campground, 18-hole championship golf course, indoor ice skating rink and recreation center.
See also
- Decatur, AL
- Hot air balloon festivalsHot air balloon festivalsHot air balloon festivals are held annually in many places throughout the year, allowing hot air balloons to gather and participate in various activities. They can include races; evening "night glows", in which balloons are fired while remaining tetheted to the ground; and rides.- External links...
- Point Mallard ParkPoint Mallard ParkPoint Mallard Park is a park in Decatur, Alabama. It sits on of the Flint Creek shoreline. The park also borders the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge and is operated by the Decatur Parks and Recreation Board. The park is open 365 days a year, and is owned and operated by the City of...
- Point Mallard Aquatic Center