Tethered Rides are offered on the Alabama Jubilee schedule as part of our evening operations each day. 

Tethered rides are at the pilots discretion and are FREE.   

We do not offer paid balloon flights during the event.

Tips:

• Lines for the rides can be long so arrive early for the wait.

• Minors (under 19) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

• Pilots may have a minimum age for rides. Typically over the age of three (3).

• Balloons are aircraft, not fair rides. Fuel is limited to one or two hours.

• If weather conditions change, the balloons may have to discontinue with short notice. 

• Please refrain from smoking on the launch field.  Balloon fuel is liquid propane.

• Be mindful of tie-down ropes. Do not cross these unless you are given approval by the crew.

• Do not touch the balloon equipment unless directed to by the pilot or crew.

• Balloons have weight and capacity limits. Large groups will be asked to split-up.

Due to weather conditions, balloon activities are held in the earliest and latest hours of the day. The best time to arrive at the field is before 6:00am for morning and 5:00pm for evening.

Balloon inflations and flights are often canceled, delayed, or postposed due to weather conditions.

The Alabama Jubilee balloon events consists of four balloon events.

Each morning there is a is a competition flight for the balloons.  In the evenings half the balloons will fly with the other half staying on the field for tethers and a balloon glow.

For those who often ask how you compete in a balloon, a brief description of balloon competition tasks are below:

Saturday Morning - Hare & Hound race

One balloon designated as the 'hare' will launch before the others.  Once in the air they try to follow the first balloon. 

The first balloon will land and roll out a large fabric 'X' onto which the "hound" balloons will try to drop a bean-bag marker.  Whoever is closest to the center wins.

Sunday Morning - Lynn Layton Key Grab

This is a 'fly-in' that brings the balloons from off the field back onto it for the Lynn Layton Key Grab.

Balloons must fly a predetermined distance, usually three miles, and attempt to navigate back to the field in order to grab a ring from the top of a tall pole.  A secondary goal is to drop a bean-bag marker at the center of an 'X' that is laid-out near the pole.

• Handicap parking at all lots is open to all vehicles with permits. 
• Considerable additional handicap parking is available, with permit, at the entrance to the baseball fields. 
• In the event that handicap parking reaches capacity, drop-offs are allowed in the baseball field lot adjacent to the launch field.
• An accessible viewing area is provided at the driving range covered tee area. 

• Event parking at Point Mallard Park parking lots and remote lots is free.  
• Parking within the park is limited, lending to heavy traffic in the evenings.  Plan to arrive early and enjoy all the activities.  At the end of the evening, stick around and enjoy the band while the departing traffic clears.
• Shuttled Remote Parking - There will be shuttle service available from the General Electric Appliances parking lot outside at 2328 Point Mallard Dw SE from 3:00pm - 10:00pm.  Parking in remotes lots is also free, but there is a bus fee of $5.00 cash per person round-trip. Children 3 and under are free.

The official address of Point Mallard Park is 2901 Point Mallard Circle SE, Decatur, AL.

Please be aware that GPS directions will likely guide you through residential neighborhoods to blocked streets during the event.  To avoid this, ensure that you enter via Church Street and Point Mallard Drive.