Celebrate Memorial Day with Balloons, Water, Music, and More

Decatur, Ala. – The Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic has been flying for 37 years in Decatur, Ala. offering plenty of free family fun during Memorial Day weekend. A two-day celebration filled with hot air balloons, live music, tractors, a military tribute, arts and crafts and other activities, this year’s Alabama Jubilee is set for May 23-24, 2015, and in between Jubilee activities, festivalgoers are encouraged to take a dip and cool off at the Point Mallard Waterpark.

The Memorial Day celebration begins bright and early on Saturday, May 23 at 6:30 a.m. with the Hare and Hound Balloon Race. Saturday’s activities include an antique car show, arts and crafts show, and the Southland Flywheelers will host a tractor show featuring some of the best restored and maintained tractors in the Southeast, engine demonstrations, a tractor parade, pedal tractor pull, and tractor games. At dusk, the Balloon Glow is a must see as towering balloons of all colors light up Point Mallard Park.

Another round of friendly competition between the hot air balloon pilots is scheduled for Sunday, May 24 beginning at 6:30 a.m. with the Lynn Layton Chevrolet Hot-Air Balloon Key Grab Race. Sunday’s activities include an arts and crafts show and a military tribute for fallen soldiers. For those who want to experience the magic of a balloon ride, free tethered rides are offered from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and a spectacular fireworks show is set to launch at 9:30 p.m.

Live music fills the air during the two-day event featuring JED Eye (www.facebook.com/JEDEyeRockBand) and Four on the Floor (www.4-floor.com) on Saturday and the Ben Parker Project (www.benparkerproject.com) and Natchez Trace (www.thenatcheztraceband.com) on Sunday. There will be a military tribute featuring a presentation by the local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a ceremony for Wounded Warriors in honor of Memorial Day. The Decatur Art Guild arts and crafts show offering only original works will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday in the Pavilion.

Free parking will be available at GE with shuttle service to Point Mallard Park from 4 to 10 p.m. for a nominal fee each way. Admission to the Alabama Jubilee is free. Please note all balloon activities are weather permitting.

Picnic blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged. All activities take place in Point Mallard Park, a 750-acre municipal park providing year round recreation facilities in Decatur, Ala. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.alabamajubilee.net.

Opening day for the Point Mallard Waterpark is Saturday, May 23. With plenty of water action, the waterpark offers a welcoming reprieve from the warm temperatures summer brings. The Waterpark is open daily beginning May 23 to August 10 with hours 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. all other days. General admission is $20 for adults (ages 12-61 years old), $15 for youth (ages 5 to 11 years old), $15 for seniors (62+) and military, with half price days offered Monday through Thursday (excluding holidays). For more information, visit www.pointmallardpark.com or call 256.341.4900.