The Tunica CVB is getting ready to welcome visitors and more than 40 hot air balloons and their pilots to Tunica this weekend for the Tunica Balloon Bash. Here are some things to know in order to be prepared for the Balloon Bash weekend.
What to Do
Friday and Saturday, we’ll offer tethered balloon rides where you can ride in a hot air balloon while it’s secured to the ground. The rides will give you a bird’s eye view of Tunica and make for a great experience to enjoy with a group of friends. Both adults and children can participate in these free balloon rides.
There’s also going to be a beautiful hot air balloon glow on Friday and Saturday nights. At the glow, balloons will line up at each of the casino properties at dusk and the burners will be lit to illuminate each hot air balloon. This will be beautiful sight, rare to the Mid-South, that you can’t miss. Check out this video that shows hot air balloons during a glow in Italy.
On Saturday afternoon, balloons will lift off so spectators can chase them from the ground by car or on foot. To see all 40 of the hot air balloons at once, grab coffee and a donut and come to Tunica National Golf and Tennis Saturday and Sunday mornings. Each hot air balloon pilot will compete for $12,000 in this hot air balloon competition.
Where to Go
Balloons will fly and glow at each of the event’s four sponsor properties: The Fitz Casino & Hotel, Gold Strike Casino Resort, Hollywood Casino Tunica and Horseshoe Casino & Hotel Tunica. Click the links for directions to each of the hotels. The schedule below outlines where to head for each activity.
When to Come
Tethered rides are first-come, first-served, so make sure you get to your favorite property in plenty of time to get in line or to pick a spot to watch the balloon glow. Schedule of events for the weekend (all events are weather permitting):
Friday, November 9
5:00 – 6:00 pm – Balloon Glow at Fitz, Gold Strike, Hollywood and Horseshoe
5:00 – 7:00 pm – Tethered Balloon Rides at Fitz, Gold Strike, Hollywood and Horseshoe (1st come 1st serve)
7:00 pm – Casino Fun and Entertainment
Saturday, November 10
7:00 – 9:00 am – Balloon Race/Competition
3:00 – 5:00 pm – Balloon Fun Flight – weather permitting (Throughout the resort area, spectators can watch or “chase” the flying balloons from the ground.)
4:30 – 5:30 pm – Balloon Glow (Participating properties to be determined.)
4:30 – 6:30 pm – Tethered Balloon Rides at Fitz and Hollywood (1st come 1st serve)
6:30 pm – Casino Fun and Entertainment
Sunday, November 11
7:00 – 9:00 am – Balloon Race/Competition
What to Bring
Make sure to bring a camera or clear out space on your cell phone to take photos of the colorful balloons at the event. Show us your view by sharing your photos on Twitter and Instagram with the tag #TunicaBalloonBash or post them on Facebook.com/TunicaMS.
Bring a jacket along, too. Though, the weather for this weekend is looking great for hot air ballooning, it will be cooler at night. It’s going to be partly cloudy throughout the weekend, with a high of 68 degrees Friday, 72 degrees Saturday and 72 degrees Sunday. Enjoy the outdoors while you can before the weather gets freezing.
If you’re visiting the casino properties after the balloon events, don’t forget your player’s cards!
For more information on hot air balloons and the events in Tunica, read the other posts in our Balloon Bash series:
- 1st Annual Tunica Balloon Bash (includes a full event schedule for the November 9-11 event weekend)
- A Hot Air Balloon History Lesson
- Hot Air Balloons in Pop Culture
- Boost Your Balloon IQ
- Our Favorite Pins, Projects and Time Passers To Prepare for Tunica Balloon Bash