For the second year in a row, the Alamance County Balloon Festival is taking place at Cedarock Park in Burlington from Sept. 8 to 10.
ALCOVETS — a nonprofit and veteran organization based in Graham — is hosting the event for the second year to raise funds to support local veterans and fund the building of the Chesnut Ridge Retreat campus, a veterans’ retreat campus at the peak of Bass Mountain.
The festival will run from Sept. 8 through 10, with balloons launching in two sessions per day: one in the early morning at sunrise and again in late afternoons, depending on weather. According to Hudson Hot Air Affair, balloon flights can be canceled because of high wind speeds. Optimal wind speeds are between 4 and 6 mph with 8 mph to 10 mph being allowed in some exceptions.
Residents and families looking to schedule a ride can sign up on ALCOVETS’ website.
Husband and wife duo Sean and Brittany Richardson are owners of Sky Candy Balloons and one of the 20-plus balloons flying at the festival this weekend.
Sean and Brittany became involved with the hot air balloon community in 2008 and started flying in 2014. This is their second festival.