Balloons
Balloon Rides | About Balloon Flights | Pilots
Tethered & Paid Balloon Rides
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 at this event.
Tips:
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Lines for the rides can be long so arrive early for the wait.
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Minors (under 18) are not allowed in the balloons unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
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Most pilots will not fly a child under the age of three (3).
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Balloons are aircraft, not fair rides. Many will run-out of fuel after one or two hours.
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If weather conditions change, the balloons may have to discontinue.
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Smoking not allowed on the launch field. Balloon fuel is liquid propane and is dangerous.
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Be mindful of tie-down ropes. Do not cross these unless you are told to do-so.
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Do not touch the balloon equipment unless directed to.
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Balloons have weight and capacity limits. Large groups will be asked to split-up.
When to See the Balloons
Events are early and late in 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. Please see our event announcements page for more information on these happenings.
Get Close to the Balloons
The Alabama Jubilee is one of the few balloon events that allows the public to walk on the field.
The public is encouraged to ask pilots questions and to get close to the balloons.
Please remember to follow the rules and comply with all pilot requests.
Crewing
Would you like to get involved and crew for a balloon? See our crewing information on the balloon page.
Balloon Events & Tasks
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 stay 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 - Morgan County Commission Hare & Hound.
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 pre-set 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 also laid-out at the pole.

Balloon: Tequila Sunrise
Pilot: Adam Riley
Madison, Alabama

Balloon: Daikin
Pilot: jeff maddox
Decatur, Alabama

Balloon: River City Drifter
Pilot: Ken Carner
Decatur, Alabama

Balloon: Party On
Pilot: Robbie Wahl
Hoover, Alabama

Balloon: Bandit
Pilot: Brian Dial
Decatur, Alabama

Balloon: Black Pearl
Pilot: Steven Rauseo
Decatur, Alabama

Balloon: Cool Ray
Pilot: Mike wahl
Decatur, Alabama

Balloon: Dreamweaver
Pilot: Laura Stewart
Decatur, Alabama

Balloon: Flight 847 The Misfit
Pilot: Clay Turner
Decatur, Alabama
National Pilots

Balloon: America
Pilot: Frank Anger
Beldon, Mississippi

Balloon: Yellow Bird
Pilot: John Cavin
indialantic, Florida

Balloon: Mountain Mamma
Pilot: Chris Christopher
Morgantown, WV

Balloon: OHANA
Pilot: Patrick Dailey
Bardstown, kentucky

Balloon: Ado
Pilot: William Davis
Helena, Alabama

Balloon: Bluegrass Reboot
Pilot: Nick Donner
Louisville, Kentucky

Balloon: Sheriff Armadillo
Pilot: Charles Edwards
Palm Harbor, Florida

Balloon: Stairway To Heaven Too
Pilot: Rick Ferrall
Lawrenceville, Georgia

Balloon: ALF
Pilot: Mark Fox
Cocoa Beach, Florida

Balloon: TAD Too High
Pilot: Robert Foxenberg
Black Creek Wisconson

Balloon: Spirit of '76
Pilot: Jason Gabriel
Montgomery, ALabama

Balloon: Doubloon II
Pilot: Paul Halterman
Ponchatoula, Florida

Balloon: Mike Hanson
Pilot: Bee Bee King
Greenwood, Mississippi

Balloon: Miss Baby II
Pilot: Matthew "perry" Hasson
Meridian, Mississippi

Balloon: Marilyn
Pilot: Chad Hebert
Zackery, Louisiana

Balloon: Star Rider
Pilot: James Art Hodge
The Village, Florida

Balloon: Disco Lemonade
Pilot: Jonathan Hodge
Madison Hights, Mi
Balloon: Dreamer
Pilot: Justin Hoffmann
Sandoval, Illinois

Balloon: Highly Kentagious
Pilot: Ken Johnston
Madsion, Mississippi

Balloon: Windwalker
Pilot: Eileen Jones
Diamondhead, MS

Balloon: Queen of Hearts
Pilot: Joel Jones
Seale, Alabama

Balloon: La Bayou Dream
Pilot: Karen Kent
Port Allen, Louisiana

Balloon: Karen's Dream II
Pilot: Karen Kent
Port Allen, Louisiana

Balloon: Tropical Twist
Pilot: Erik Kiehle
Meridian, Mississippi

Balloon: Prizmatic
Pilot: Paul Knuth
Crestwood, Kentucky

Balloon: Billy The Kidd
Pilot: Paul Knuth
Crestwood, Kentucky

Balloon: Patty Sue
Pilot: David Koenig
Menasha, Wisconson

Balloon: BlueLoon
Pilot: David Koenig
Menasha, Wisconson

Balloon: Bubblegumbo
Pilot: David Koenig
Menasha, Wisconson

Balloon: Heaven Bound
Pilot: Jeff MaddoX
Toney, Alabama

Balloon: Sky Eyes
Pilot: Nancy McConnell
Monticello, Florida

Balloon: Just a Dream
Pilot: Mike Miller
Grafton, Ohio

Balloon: Stars & Stripes
Pilot: Rusty Miller
Atmore, Alabama

Balloon: Yellow Brick Road
Pilot: Rob Nutting
Ackworth, Iowa

Balloon: Seedquel
Pilot: Bob O'brien
Waupaca, Wisconson

Balloon: Master Blaster
Pilot: Gary Odom
Valparaiso, Florida

Balloon: Hyggelig
Pilot: Dale Pattyn
Kennesaw, Georgia

Balloon: Joy
Pilot: Fred Poole
Meridian, Mississippi

Balloon: Tuchstone Energy
Pilot: Joe Ritchie
Bryant, Arkansas

Balloon: Kalos
Pilot: Kelly Sasser
Columbus, Georgia

Balloon: Dense Fog
Pilot: Charlie Schobel
Cumming, Georiga

Balloon: Treetop Flyer
Pilot: Tim Slattery
Madison, Mississippi

Balloon: UFO
Pilot: Tom Steinbock
Crestwood, Kentucky

Balloon: My Cup of Tea
Pilot: Tom Steinbock
Crestwood, Kentucky

Balloon: Kodachrome
Pilot: Frank Stevenson
Frankfort, Kentucky

Balloon: Fire Dog
Pilot: Steven Stokoe
Tampa, Florida

Balloon: Re/Max
Pilot: Joel Sturdevant
Lee's Summit, Montana

Balloon: Checkride
Pilot: Dave Sullivan
Fayetteville, Georiga

Balloon: Sky Walker
Pilot: Carlton Sumner
Rincorn, Georgia

Balloon: Dream Pie
Pilot: Dennis Sutter
Hallsville, Montana

Balloon: the enTeisment
Pilot: Mike Teis
Candler, North Carolina

Balloon: Ol Yeller
Pilot: Larry Torgerson
Meridian, Mississippi

Balloon: Direction
Pilot: Matt Torgerson
Anchorage, Kentucky

Balloon: Diamond-Aire
Pilot: Stephen Turner
Atlanta, Georgia
Are you a pilot wishing to join in the fun at the Alabama Jubilee? Fill out our application: Pilot Application