The Arkansas Hot Air Balloon State Championship will be Sept. 10-12 in the
beautiful Ozark Mountains in Harrison.

Approximately 20 hot air balloons will be floating across the skies of Harrison competing for cash prizes.

The festival begins at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 10 with a balloon glow and tethered balloon rides. At 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 11, will be the Hare and Hound race. One balloon, called the hare, takes flight first and drops a bag to the ground to be used as a target. The rest of the balloons, or hounds, then try to drop their bags closest to the target to win. The festival wraps up at 7 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 12, when balloon pilots will compete in the key grab. Pilots try to maneuver their balloons to grab a key from a flag pole.

Morning flights typically begin around 6:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. and evening flights usually depart between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. The tethered rides are offered from the practice football field behind the junior high school. Balloons involved in the races depart from several locations and can be seen from throughout Harrison.

The weekend is a great photo opportunity and fun for the family. Admission is free. The festival is weather depended. For more information, contact the Harrison Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-880-6265.