New horizons… A young attendee scans the area for the best booths to shop at during the 2024 Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival on May 4. Even though the weather prevented flight during the scheduled times of 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., attendees still enjoyed and participated in the festivities. “I think people come from all over the country because they’re interested in the balloons and because the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce always puts on a really good festival,” said Frank Frazier, OWA Director of Facilities Maintenance.
New horizons… A young attendee scans the area for the best booths to shop at during the 2024 Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival on May 4. Even though the weather prevented flight during the scheduled times of 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., attendees still enjoyed and participated in the festivities. “I think people come from all over the country because they’re interested in the balloons and because the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce always puts on a really good festival,” said Frank Frazier, OWA Director of Facilities Maintenance.
Jillian Surla
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OWA celebrates 20th annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival

Byline photo of Jillian Surla
Jillian Surla, editor-in-chief
May 7, 2024
Game time!… Sisters, clad in balloon-themed outfits, play with a large checkerboard. Their family sat around them on the grass, laughing and taking pictures of the scene. (Jillian Surla)
Remembering the moments… A vendor paints an art commission right in front of his customer. The man who bought it watched the artist’s every stroke, entranced by the quick yet deliberate movements. (Jillian Surla)
Bountiful and beautiful… Attendees search through Tory Beth Boutique’s wide selection of clothing, jewelry and accessories. After setting up shop only six months prior, the owner’s son, Alex Rios, said he was surprised by the number of people who showed up. “We’ve got a lot of positive responses and a lot of people like her clothing,” Rios said. “We knew this was going to be popular – a lot of people were going to come here, from Fairhope to all the way from Gulf Shores, so why not attend?” (Jillian Surla)
Can she get it, please?… Transfixed by the vibrant and fun toys, a young girl asks her father for whatever she could get her hands on. Exasperated and adoring, her father purchased a stuffed animal and a panda hat. (Jillian Surla)
Rumbling stomachs… A food vendor cooks meat for a customer’s midday meal. Stationed right at the front of the festival, the vendor and his co-workers hollered out to onlookers for them to try out their delicacies. (Jillian Surla)
That one!… Two girls discuss what the best face paint designs are. After, they waited in line together, having decided on the best option: bright rainbows right over their eyebrows. (Jillian Surla)
Pretty and painted… A face painter dabs rainbow paints on a little girl. As soon as the girl hopped out of the chair, she gave a bright smile to her family. (Jillian Surla)
Shopping together… Two women sift through Magnolia’s Boutique & Gift options. Once people saw items on sale, they couldn’t help but be tempted to leave with a bag full of clothes. (Jillian Surla)
Time for play!… A woman drops her puck in a game of Plinko in the hopes of winning a stuffed animal or inflatable toy. Her partner stood underneath her and cheered her on. (Jillian Surla)
Chill out!… A family eats cold ice-cream while waiting for the Disc Connected K9s Dog Show. When they finished, they sat patiently and talked to each other about the upcoming show. (Jillian Surla)
Up, up, away!… Disc Connected K9’s main event dog, Karma, catches a frisbee after jumping from dog trainer Lawrence Frederick’s back. Frederick instructed people to purchase “Jaw-tographed” and “Paw-tographed” frisbees from their booth. (Jillian Surla)
Southern princess… Maddi Heath, 2024 Teen Miss Jubilee, hugs and takes photos with children outside the theater. As she stood there, she conversed with parents about the theater showcase itinerary. (Jillian Surla)
No good deed… The OWA Theater Showcase prepares to dance to “One Short Day” from Wicked The Musical. Before this, they danced and sang music from musicals such as Chicago, West Side Story and Moulin Rouge. (Jillian Surla)
Gonna be popular!… Showcase dancers smile joyfully as they prance around the stage. At the end, two dancers acted out Elphaba and Glinda’s reconciliation where they hold hands during the song “Defying Gravity.” (Jillian Surla)
Heartbreak hotel… Elvis Presley impersonator Shane Tucker sings “Love Me Tender” for the Elvis Remembered show. Later in the show, he bent down and gave his scarf to a woman in the front row. (Jillian Surla)
Main event… Families, both young and old, explore the inside of a tethered hot air balloon during the interactive display event. Outside the balloon, volunteers gave away free scholastic books. “I think people come back year after year – and more people hear about it year after year, so it’s always a really big event,” Frazier said. (Jillian Surla)
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