Helen-Atlantic Hot Air Balloon Race

he South's oldest balloon event and the United States' only long distance hot air balloon race will begin with a mass ascension of 30 bright and colorful hot air balloons in North Georgia's Alpine Village in Helen, Ga. Race competitors and local flyers will take to the sky at 7 a.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2015. If the weather conditions are too windy or storms are forecast, the take-off will be postponed until conditions are acceptable. While the competition to the Atlantic continues, other balloonists will compete in local events beginning Thursday evening around 6 p.m. Local flying events will take place also on Friday and Saturday. The balloons will fly around 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. each day (weather permitting). The balloons will only fly for around 1-2 hours. There will be many opportunities available to the public, including assisting with the inflations, being a part of a chase crew, taking a tethered ride in a balloon or a champagne flight over the mountains.