No matter the time of year, the sky’s the limit here!
Set against a centuries-old backdrop of storied history, “The Little Easy” has always captured the hearts of visitors. Stronger through the uniqueness and diversity of our past and present, we are witnessing a Natchez Renewal. New Businesses and Jobs. Hot Real Estate. Investment in Parks, Infrastructure, and Workforce Training. More Cruise Line dockings. A blooming Movie industry. Year-round Festivals. And a Social Calendar that never stops. So whether it’s a short visit or your new home, we’re ready to welcome you to Natchez, all year round!
Dan M.Gibson Mayor of Natchez
WONDER abounds
Go ahead, look up, look around ... and get ready to be amazed as Natchez is filled with the riot of color, adventure and awe that comes with the Natchez Balloon Festival. Natchez is celebrating its 40th annual Natchez Balloon Festival, an event that draws thousands of visitors from across the country and abroad. The balloons are, of course, the main attraction. This year more than 40 pilots and their balloons will be on hand. Because weather conditions must be perfect for flying, times and locations for takeoff are typically scheduled an hour or so before each flight. The slightest bit of rain, too much wind or a day that is too hot can keep hot air balloons grounded. Balloon flights are scheduled to occur around 7:30 a.m. and around 4 p.m. each morning and evening on Friday, Oct. 17 through Sunday, Oct. 19. A balloon glow is scheduled to take place at 6:45 p.m. Friday at the festival site at Rosalie Mansion, provided there is favorable weather. Stick around for the whole weekend for the best chance to see balloons flying.
Photography by Ben Hillyer (includding cover); Sabrina Robertson; and Thomas Graning for The Natchez Democrat. Copyright 2025 by Natchez Newspapers, Inc. www.natchezdemocrat.com
SPOTTING GUIDE
MORE THAN 40 balloons are slated to compete in the 2025 Natchez Balloon Festival. Let the images of balloons along the bottom of the following pages be your handy guide to the race. How many balloons can you spot?
FRANK ANGER BELDEN, MS
CORY BLOOM INDIANOLA, IA
JAYSON BARNHILL LONGVIEW, TX
BROSSETT, GARY
LONGVIEW, TX
LEWISVILLE, TEXAS
BILL CUNNINGHAM MEMPHIS, TENN.
BILL BUSSEY
LONGVIEW, TX
THE Festival
The weekend isn’t just about the balloons.
Activities start on Thursday, Oct. 16, with the Live at Five free music event at the bandstand on the Natchez Bluff.
Flights begin on Friday morning, weather permitting, and the festival site opens at 4 p.m. Friday . The balloon glow begins at 6:45 p.m. and the fireworks show begins at 7:45 p.m.
The festival itself, featuring live music, food and a variety of vendors, will take place Friday, Oct. 17, Saturday, Oct. 18, and Sunday, Oct. 19, on the grounds of Rosalie Mansion. As part of teh 40th anniversary of the festival, organizers have added musical acts to the Sunday activities.
The Natchez Balloon Festival also includes an arts and crafts fair, located just inside the festival gates near Broadway and Orleans streets.
There are also activities for children to enjoy, such as balloon animals, face painting and a photo booth.
Speaking of activities children enjoy, there are also carnival rides
site — fun for the whole family. Tickets to the carnival rides and games are sold separately at the carnival site on South Broadway Street.
Tickets to the festival are $20 for a Friday-only pass; $35 in advance for a Saturday pass or $40 at the gate; and Sunday General Admission, $10.
TICKETS
Weekend passes are $45 in advance for a weekend pass or $55 at the gate. Children 10 years old and younger may attend for free. VIP tickets are also available, which provide access to the Cappy Stahlman Sponsor and VIP tent overlooking the Mississippi River with an open bar on Friday, private cash bar on Saturday, tables and chairs and air-conditioned restrooms. The weekend VIP pass also includes a dinner in the tent on Friday night. Saturday VIP passes are $130 in advance or $155 at the gate. Weekend VIP passes are $325 in advance or $375 at the gate. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Historic Natchez Foundation, located at 108 S. Commerce St. or online at natchezballoonfestival.com.
THE FESTIVAL takes place on the grounds of Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens on Broadway Street in Natchez. Times are approximate and subject to change. Balloons will fly weather permitting.
Ages 11 & above
FRIDAY — $20
SATURDAY — $40
SUNDAY –$10
WEEKEND PASS — $55
VIP Passes
SATURDAY — $155
WEEKEND — $375
TX
WYNN GUSTAFSON
ARDEN HILLS, MIN.
JOSHUA GOLL LONGVIEW,
JOHN GOOD PRAIRIEVILLE, LA
WILLIAM DAVIS HELENA, AL
SPOTTING GUIDE
BRANDON HEAVIN DRURY, TX
PERRY HASSON MADISON, MS
CHRIS HEIDELBAUER MARION, IA
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, OCT. 17
•Morning balloon flight time and place to be determined
• Afternoon balloon flight times and place to be determined
• 4 p.m., gates open
• 6:45 p.m. Balloon
Glow at festival site
• 7:45 p.m. Fireworks
• 8 p.m. Velcro Pygmies
SATURDAY, OCT. 18
• Morning balloon flight times and place to be determined
• 11 a.m., gates open
• 12:30 p.m. Candace Bush Band
• 2 p.m. Laine Hardy
• 3:45 p.m. Vasti Jackson
• Afternoon balloon flight times and place to be determined
• 5:30 p.m. Mother’s Finest
• 7:30 p.m. Galactic
Ft. Jelly Joseph
SATURDAY, OCT. 19
• Morning balloon flight times and place to be determined• 11 a.m., gates open
• 12:30 p.m. The Vagabonds
• 2 p.m. The B3
• 3:30 p.m. Kudzu Kings
• Afternoon balloon flight times and place to be determined
SPOTTING GUIDE
KEN JOHNSTON CANTON, MS
KEVIN HEINZMANN, SANDOVAL, IL
GARY JONES DIAMONDHEAD, MS
GEOFFREY JONES MERIDIAN, MS
EILEEN JONES DIAMONDHEAD, MS
MUSIC LINEUP
The entertainment lineup for the 40th Annual Natchez Balloon festival promises to excite and inspire, offering a blend of nationally and regionally famous heavy hitters, and rising local talent. The headliner, Galactic feat. Jelly Joseph, has been a staple of the funk-rock music scene for 30 years, and the rest of the lineup is no less impressive, and local artists have a larger presence than ever this year, thanks to the addition of a Sunday festival day.
The World Famous Velcro Pygmies want to take you on a little journey, and they promise it won’t hurt — unless you want it to. There are no chocolate rivers or lickable wallpaper, but what their golden ticket will get you is a trip back to a time when music was in its prime. Back when hair was big but rock ‘n’ roll was bigger ... back when a 17-second guitar solo transformed a man and his machine into a Rock God … back when fallen angels swarmed the front row like Aquanet to a feathered bang.
The Velcro Pygmies travel the country year round — from the Gulf Shores to the Great Lakes — to share the sights, sounds and stain-washed denim of the glorious ‘80s, schooling audiences on the difference
between a rock band and a rock show. From start to finish, they command the stage with a prowess uncommon in today’s industry, and they leave you begging for more. No gimmicks or tricks, but they’ll treat you to genuine, undiluted rock ‘n’ roll energy that unites. So take the journey, won’t you?
Come with them, and you’ll be in a rock ‘n’ rollcharged world of pure imagination. every race, creed, age, and gender.
The Velcro Pygmies are more than just a band — they are a way of life. They’re a nitro-fueled Trans Am prowling the streets at dusk, looking for some action — satisfaction all night. They ain’t looking for nothing but a good time, and it don’t get better than this.
THURSDAY, OCT. 16
Before the festival officially begins, Live@Five at the Natchez bandstand will include live music and a couple of balloons standing for an evening glow if the weather allows starting at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16.
FRIDAY, OCT. 17
Friday night kicks off with The Velcro Pygmies, a high-energy rock band known for transporting audiences straight back to the glory days of the 1980s. If you loved Bag of Donuts at Balloon Festival previously, you’re in for a great time with The Velcro Pygmies.
SATURDAY, OCT. 18
Saturday begins with Candace Bush Band, bringing soulful, blues-infused rock from Hattiesburg to the Natchez stage. Laine Hardy, the Louisiana-born winner of American Idol Season 17, follows with his smooth blend of Southern-inspired country and pop. Then comes Mississippi’s
WALT RUDY WADSWORTH, OH
JOEL JONES SEALE, AL
ERIK KIEHLE MERIDIAN
COLTON KRAUSE GREENWELL SPRINGS, LA
VELCRO PYGMIES | 8 P.M. FRIDAY
own Vasti Jackson, a blues powerhouse whose fiery guitar and commanding vocals celebrate the rich musical heritage of the region. As evening falls, Mother’s Finest—Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductees—deliver their signature “Too Funk for Rock, Too Rock for Funk” sound, ensuring no one stands still. It all leads up to Galactic featuring Jelly Joseph, the legendary New Orleans funk and jazz collective has been active for over 30 years, and will bring a soulful, funky, brass-filled finale to Saturday’s festivities.
SUNDAY, OCT. 19
For the first time in many years, the festival will span three days, with the addition of Sunday boasting strong showing of Mississippi musicians. The Vagabonds, a Natchez-based rock ensemble led by
hometown favorites Maggie Brown and Fred Parker, start the day off. B3 (featuring Bubba McCabe of PigOut Inn fame) as well as Will Freeman and Zechariah Lloyd Tillotson, will follow with psychedelic, high-energy jams rooted in Southern grit, while The Kudzu Kings from Oxford, MS, veterans of the Southern music scene since 1994, close out the weekend with their signature “funktry” style—a perfect fusion of funk, country, and jamband energy that’s sure to leave crowds dancing into the sunset.
From rock to funk, blues to country, the entertainment at this year’s Natchez Balloon Festival offers something for everyone. As balloons drift above the Mississippi and music fills the air, it’s more than a festival—it’s a celebration of sound, sky, and community.
The Hattiesburg’s up and coming female fronted rock-n-roll band. Bringing you a dose of soulful blues infused rock classics and originals. Candace Bush Band is comprised of one of the tightest rhythm sections in the Hub City, Tony James and Paul Hagleston. Layer that with the immense talent of Al “Fish” Herring who brings it on Keys and Trumpet. Pair that with a true guitar player, reminiscent of the rock n roll era, the exceptional, Jo Jo Long. Featuring the inspiring unique tone, and gripping heartfelt vocals of Candace Bush
BOB PULASKI PINEVILLE, ALA.
DAMIEN RISTANIO MONROE, NC
COLLIN MCCLUNG LONGVIEW, TX
KURT VITENSE ST. PETERS, MO
CANDACE BUSH BAND | 12:30 P.M. SATURDAY
MUSIC LINEUP
LAINE HARDY | 2 P.M. SATURDAY, OCT. 18
Hailing from Livingston, Louisiana, Laine Hardy is a country singer, songwriter and guitarist. His discography includes the EP In The Bayou (2018) and the single “Flame”. The Louisiana native competed on seasons 16 and 17 of American Idol. Hardy won season 17, making history as the first Asian-American to win the singing competition.
VASTI JACKSON | 3:45 P.M. SATURDAY, OCT. 18
World renowned guitarist, and vocalist, Mississippi living blues legend, Cultural ambassador, 2012 Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame inductee, and 2015 Albert King Lifetime Guitar Award recipient, Vasti Jackson is a powerful force in the world of music! With more than forty three years as a professional musician. As an artist, Vasti is known for sweat-drenched, soul-ripping live performances marked by some of the most stunning, and innovative guitar playing today. Vasti’s stellar vocals, fiery guitar, and stage presence captures the audience, and leaves a lasting impression that celebrates the triumph of the blues, and the joy of rhythm that is soul satisfying to all that are lucky enough to experience his music.
RICHARD SABIN HENDERSON, TEXAS
JOEY SCARPINATTO KARNACK, TX
MOTHER’S
FINEST | 5:30 P.M. SATURDAY, OCT. 18
Over the course of three decades, Galactic has become a cornerstone of New Orleans’ dynamic music landscape – the same world that brought them together in the ‘90s as a late-night funk outfit steeped in the unique sounds of their city.
The musically adventurous group has evolved continuously since then, thanks in part to their penchant for collaborating with a wildly diverse array of guest artists. While those experiences have provided a steady stream of new musical perspectives and ideas to the group’s core sound, other elements of their work – like their new role as stewards of the historic New Orleans music venue Tipitina’s – have deepened their relationship with their city and its music community through the years, giving the band an even richer foundation for their ongoing explorations of new creative terrain.
“Too Funk for Rock, Too Rock for Funk.” Mothers Finest has always been a band impossible to force into artificially-labelled boxes. One of the most energetic and charismatic groups to cut a swath through the music industry, Mothers Finest defies boundaries and creates its own genre. Led by superbly talented vocalists Glenn “Doc” Murdock and Joyce “Baby Jean” Kennedy, and anchored by the tight, crunchy rhythm section of Gary “Moses Mo” Moore and John “Red Devil” Hayes on guitars, Jerry “Wyzard” Seay on bass, and Dion Derek on drums, Mothers Finest drives through the pocket like a Mack truck and peels the paint off the walls.
Now past their fiftieth year of crushing the groove and bangin’ their fans’ heads upside, Mothers Finest hasn’t lost any of their signature energy and passion. These veterans of the music industry - and Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductees - continue to tour, delighting long-time fans and drawing many new ones into the fold.
GALATIC FT. JELLY JOSEPH | 7:30 P.M. SATURDAY, OCT. 18
MIKE WAHL DECATUR, ALA.
JAMES STANTON FULTON, MS
DALE TIBODEAU CONROE, TX
ERIC WIGGINS GREENVILLE, MS
GARY WHITBY COLUMBIA, MO.
MUSIC LINEUP
Based in Natchez, Mississippi, The Vagabonds are a gritty, soulful ensemble blending rock, blues, and vintage flair with a Southern heart. At their core is Maggie Brown, a Miss-Lou native raised in the church and honed in honky-tonks, now lending her vocals, rhythm guitar, and keys to the group’s compelling sound. The band’s lineup — including long-time collaborators from the Natchez area — carries decades of collective experience, fusing tight musicianship with raw emotional energy.
With roots firmly planted in Mississippi, The Vagabonds continue expanding their footprint, performing across regional festivals and nights out in the Deep South. Maggie’s road-worn spirit and their chemistry together bring a fresh, resonant voice to the Southern music scene.
THE
VAGABONDS | 12:30 P.M. SUNDAY, OCT. 19
Rooted in Natchez, B3 is a three-piece dynamo of rock and psychedelic energy, founded by Mississippi natives Will Freeman, Bubba McCabe, and Zechariah Lloyd Tillotson.
Their performances crackle with intensity, transporting audiences into a raw, spontaneous sonic space that blends gritty grooves with improvisational flair.
Freeman leads with guitar and vocals, McCabe holds down the low end on bass and adds vocal textures, and Tillotson drives the rhythm with drums and backing vocals.
Their setlists mix original material and spirited reinterpretations, often stretching into unexpected jams. Whether lighting up local stages like Natchez Bandstand or Under the Hill Saloon, B3’s visceral songs and tight chemistry give listeners a deeply rooted taste of Mississippi rock..
B3 | 2 P.M. SUNDAY, OCT. 19
Hailing from Oxford, Mississippi, the Kudzu Kings are a seasoned roots-rock, jam-tinged outfit that’s been crisscrossing the Southeast since 1994.
Blurring the lines between altcountry, bluegrass, and improv rock, they call their sound “funktry” — a fitting label for their syncopated, groove-inflected take on Southern storytelling.
Over the years, their stages have seen the likes of Widespread Panic, Bob Weir, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Junior Brown, a testament to their esteem in jamband circles. While they reached early momentum with albums such as Kudzu Kings and Y2Kow in the late ’90s, they’ve evolved into a veteran act that still tours, reconnects with original members, and carries that Southern spirit into every live show.
