ROCKINGHAM — The second annual N.C. Festival of Ballooning kicked off Friday Sept. 16 at the Richmond County Airport.
The first of the three-night event featured music, vendors, and many hot air balloons.
Organizer Richard Grarvie was seen helping many balloon enthusiasts set up for tethered take-offs.
Skip Pringle and John Cavin of Cartoon Balloons were a large hit with the kids, coming all the way from Orlando and Indiatlantic Beach, Florida.
The dynamic duo raised balloons shaped like Tweety Bird and Tom and Jerry.
Though Cavin is the main flyer, the pair go to multiple ballooning festivals each year. This year’s balloon festival also included the Remax balloon. The Remax balloon is known for advertising.
“You can watch a commercial 150 times, and still not remember a company,” said flyer Tom Lattin.
Lattin oversees the Remax balloons for North and South Carolina. Lattin has been used for everything from advertising with Forbes Magazine to making a child’s day at Victory Junction.
Helping Lattin get his balloon off the ground were his wife, Sherry, and two sons, Luke and Mark.
The last flyer of the night was Richard Davenport. Davenport is an independent flyer who makes a living by attending hot air balloon festivals across the country. He has been flying since 1985, and is from Ormen Beach, Florida.
The festival continued Saturday and Sunday.
The RO will have more photos from the festival coming later.
