2012 Carolina BalloonFest – See Hot Air Balloons in Statesville!

2012 Carolina BalloonFest in Statesville, NC © Katrena

October brings an explosion of color to the sky in Iredell County, North Carolina. Yes, the leaves display their amazing array of Fall colors. And one might see a beautiful bow arching through a raindrop's prism. But this colorful display is Statesville's Carolina BalloonFest.

Hot Air Balloon Festival in Iredell County, North Carolina © Katrena

The Carolina BalloonFest, known as the Balloon Rally years ago, has been delighting folks in Iredell County for 39 years. I remember growing up in Cleveland, North Carolina and being thrilled to see several balloons floating close enough to see from my home. Several crews said that must have been when they had the balloon festival in nearby Troutman. The event now beckons thousands of people to enjoy entertainment, games, food, and, of course, the hot air balloons.

Great Expectation Balloon Crew with Kathy Lazenby (seated) and pilot Jim Falls (2nd from left) © Katrena

Quite a few folks have made the event into an annual excursion. Kathy Lazenby says that she has been helping with balloons since the event started back in the 1970s. She first worked on a balloon crew for "Foxfire" when the Balloon Rally was in Love Valley. She says the event was only in Love Valley one year. For the last several years she has teamed up with Jim Falls and the "Great Expectations" crew, which is where I found them at the Statesville Regional airport for the 2012 Carolina BalloonFest.

Balloons at Statesville Regional Airport in October © Katrena

Delores Stewart, from King's Mountain, has been working with Jim Fall's balloon crew for twelve years. She must also especially like the event since she's been participating in Iredell County's balloon festival for 20 years. She also mentioned they have been to quite a few ballooning events in other areas, including the 2000 balloon festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the event coordinators called for 1000 balloons to grace the skies.

Character Balloons at Carolina BalloonFest © Katrena

Crowds get the chance to see the crews set up and take off, but only the riders and chasers get to see them set down, typically about three to five miles away. That distance will usually take about an hour to travel, according to Mr. Falls. His crew smiles as they talk about the big crowd a balloon landing draws. Because few people know much about hot air balloons, folks on the ground nearby often think the pilot is making a crash landing. One time they even set down at a fish camp!

Setting Up Hot Air Balloon © Katrena

Not all of the crew members have been attending for twenty or more years. One young crew member has only been around balloons for eleven years. Elise Colbrum took her first ride at the rather tender age of three months, but she assured me that she is very interested in crafts as well as balloons and even had some of her work stashed nearby. Claire Colbrun mentioned she had attended a similar balloon festival as a pilot and that Tony Colbrun was a sponser at that time. She gave him his first balloon ride at that time and they became a family as well as a team.

Beautiful & Big Balloons in Statesville NC © Katrena

My oldest daughter thought "Christel Delight" was a really cool balloon. Casey Clodfelter, from Troutmen, has been serving on a balloon crew for fifteen years. She says that Bubba Winston is the pilot and he used to fly the DARE banner. The balloon he now flies sports the message "You and Me Drug Free" on the side.

American Cancer Society Balloon at Statesville Balloon Festival © Katrena

Another balloon with a great message is Carolina Blue, sponsered by the American Cancer Society. That special balloon is piloted by Marsha Treacy from Statesville, North Carolina. Quite a few cheers went up for the American Cancer Society's balloon, local pilot, and passengers!

Patriotic Freedom Flyer Hot Air Balloon © Katrena

A great variety of balloons graced the Carolina blue sky on Saturday, October 20 at the Statesville Regional Airport. From "Great Balls of Fire" and the "Purple People Eater" to "Evening Sunrise" and "Freedom Flyer" and everything in between, balloons danced overhead as spectators admired the special once-a-year sight.

Hot Air Balloons in Statesville © Katrena

All of my daughters were quite impressed as the balloon crews spread their envelopes on the ground, turned on fans, and finally fired up as each balloon became airborne above its gondola. It was hard to decide where to look because amazing scenes delighted us in all directions as the colorful orbs ascended, and many riders and pilots waved as they headed on their journeys above the beautiful leaves. I have to agree with one of the volunteers as he said with a smile, "There isn't a bad seat in the house!"

Fun Things to do in Statesville and Iredell County © Katrena

Find prices, directions, history, information about flying on a balloon, and more at the Carolina BalloonFest official web site. See a cool time-lapse video of the 39th Annual BalloonFest in Statesville on this YouTube video set to music and Katrena's article about the Night Glow Show at the festival also. See more of Katrena's family-friendly articles at Travel NC With Kids.

Carolina BalloonFest in Statesville NC in October

Statesville Carolina BalloonFest © Katrena

A splash of bright colors mesmerizes children and adults as balloons take to the sky in Statesville Regional Airport for the annual BalloonFest in October. This event, started in 1972, beckons balloon enthusiasts, pilots, vendors, and families in and near the Piedmont area of North Carolina.

Balloon Rally in Iredell County NC (Now Called BalloonFest) © Katrena

Statesville hosts America's second oldest hot air balloon festival. The 2012 39th Statesville BalloonFest will be held on October 19 (3 p.m. to 8 p.m.), 20 (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.), and 21 (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Nick and Chase Donner, Don Cline, Sally Mazzocchi, Louise Egerton, and Marsha Treacy will be among some of the pilots at this year's Iredell County balloon rally event.

North Carolina Balloon Festival © Katrena

Parking is limited, and early arrival is recommended. Off site parking includes discount tickets and a free shuttle that will run every 15 minutes. Proceeds will help benefit Purple Heart Homes and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Statesville.

October Fun Family Activities in NC © Katrena

A variety of activities are offered at the balloon festival, including music, activities for the kids, and beer and wine tasting. Of course, the activity that draws the most attention is watching and anxiously awaiting the launch/landing of over 50 beautiful balloons near dawn and dusk!

Hot Air Balloon Rides in NC © Katrena

Those who dare to ride might check out opportunities for tethered rides or even go up with a pilot.
The view from the ground is a great photo opportunity. Seeing so many hot air balloons rise into the sky is quite a memorable experience.

Statesville BalloonFest in NC © Katrena

Visit the Carolina BalloonFest web site for ticket prices, a map, parking information, links for booking a balloon ride, balloon photos, a schedule of events, a memorial tribute to Ed Ristaino, and more.

Balloons at Statesville Airport © Katrena

See balloon pictures and stories about the 2012 Carolina BalloonFest. See Katrena's article about the Night Glow Show. Find more of Katrena's articles at Travel NC With Kids and Love 2 Travel With Kids.

Mocksville NC Has Free Car Show – Fun Family Outing!

Cruise In Car Show in Mocksville NC © Katrena

Where can you see a polished Caddy just a few feet from a handsome T'bird? Or maybe a Model T in sight of a Monster Truck? Maybe you'd like to see a Harley or 'Vette? Perhaps you like to look under the hood or admire a great paint job?

Free Car Show in Davie County © Katrena

You can easily see these sites and much more at the Mocksville Cruise In, sponsored by the Piedmont C.A.R.S. Association. Main Street in downtown Mocksville begins to hear the purr of finely tuned classic cars or even the roar of some of the big guys as folks drive in from miles around to park their pets. Only these pets don't necessarily have fur but might have some on the inside, and a few might have fins. Yep...this car show displays a nice variety of vehicles that have loads of character!

Fun Family Activities in North Carolina © Katrena

The Mocksville Cruise In, held the first and third Monday early April through early October, is a great way to spend an evening with the family. This free event usually begins around 5:30 p.m. while most cars leave shortly before dusk.

Classic Cars in Piedmont NC © Katrena

My family has visited the Mocksville Cruise In several times. It can provide an amazing trip down memory lane! My step-father knows makes and models and was quickly naming the makes and models of various cars and trucks as we walked around. The family delighted in hearing about drive-in movies and starting a straight drive on a hill as nostalgic memories began to take the driver's seat for the evening.

Large Car Show in NC © Katrena

My daughters enjoyed seeing the special touches that many folks added to their rides. A few teddy bears were riding in polished back seats, and the girls also learned about the importance of having the fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror.

Fun & Free Outdoor Summer Family Activities © Katrena

In addition to browsing an amazing variety of cars and trucks, folks can enjoy listening to music of the era as a DJ spins a few songs. Well, I suppose to be more accurate about the whole thing, it is probably more of a shuffle rather than a spin with modern technology...but you get the picture. The music is a nice touch that seems just right for the evening.

Classic Car Show in Davie County NC © Katrena

Many of the local downtown shops are open for the event, and there are several opportunities to enjoy a snack or meal for those who wish to make it into an entire evening for the family. My daughters enjoy window shopping, especially when they find beautiful dolls looking out of the shops! Some of the vehicles may even be for sale, if anyone is looking to buy a classic ride.

See Old Cars for Free © Katrena

Many people will pay big bucks to get into a car show like this, but the Mocksville Cruise In is absolutely free. When the weather is perfect, you will likely see HUNDREDS of vehicles at this car show in Davie County. Many times, the cars fill up Main Street and the show will spill down the side streets as well. Proud owners will often pack chairs and sit near their treasures, ready and willing to give you the scoop on their piece of the show if you ask.

See Vintage Cars for Free © Katrena

Those who like to try their luck might wish to go for the 50/50 drawing. I've mentioned to my girls several times that perhaps I should drive my bright red '93 Cavalier up there and pop the hood. After all, it does have over 300,000 miles and has the original clutch...that ought to count for something, right? My kids have threatened me with bodily harm if I decide to do that, so maybe I'll just keep that idea in reserve.

Best Car Shows in North Carolina © Katrena

I had a really hard time choosing pictures for this article. I have so many shots of amazing cars and trucks at the shows! We have combined the car show with a Davie County Public Library summer program several times – those programs are also free and fun, and the library is on Main Street less then three blocks from the car show.

Where to See Old Cars on Display in NC © Katrena

Looking for more fun family activities in North Carolina? The Annual Tractor Parade is also held on Main Street in Mocksville, and the Bull Hole Rubber Duck Race on the Yadkin River is held nearby. Find more articles, loaded with tips and pictures, at my Travel NC With Kids site map.

Fun Things to Do in Mocksville NC © Katrena

Roller Coasters for Kids at Planet Snoopy in Carowinds

Fun Roller Coasters for Kids at Carowinds © Katrena

If the kids love the thrill of a roller coaster, chances are that Carowinds offers a ride the kids will love if you are around the North Carolina and South Carolina border. Planet Snoopy features two roller coasters – one larger, older wooden one called Woodstock Express and another smaller, shorter steel one called Lucy's Crabby Cabbie.

Tips for Riding Roller Coasters With Kids

Just a quick note to parents who are planning to ride the coasters with the kids – make sure you are physically able to do so. Some rides may be a tight, if not impossible, fit for adults who are larger or taller. You might want to wait a while after eating to hit some of the higher thrill roller coasters, especially if the kids or you tend to get carsick, although these rides tend to cause less nausea than the ones that go around in circles, at least that's the case for my family.

Ensure that the kids meet height requirements before standing in line. If you have more than one child in a height range that requires a responsible person to ride with each and only one adult is in the group, you might find a volunteer (that you trust) behind you in the line willing to ride with one child or you might consider having someone else to accompany you on your Carowinds trip. If you hit Carowinds on a day with small crowds, the ride operators may allow you to ride more than once without having to go back through the line again if no one is waiting for that seat.

Make sure to secure any loose items, including shoes and glasses and hats, before riding. Those who are well endowed might want to wear a good-fitting support bra...just sayin'.

Lucy's Crabby Cabbie

Roller Coaster for Small Kids at Carowinds - Lucy's Crabby Cabbie © Katrena

This little roller coaster scored big time with my 4-year-old who is too short for many of the more thrilling and bigger rides at Carowinds. This one is located at the back of Planet Snoopy and is designed with kids in mind. People above a certain height must be accompanied by a child. Children 36 to 40 inches must be accompanied by a responsible person - taller kids can ride alone.

This little roller coaster lasts one minute and fifteen seconds and makes a circle with lots of ups and downs on the way. A camera will catch the grins and grimaces as you head down the first and largest hill. This one actually picks up pretty good speed for a tiny roller coaster. The ride ends with multiple little hills. Those riding in the back will feel those hills a bit more.

Fun First Roller Coaster at Carowinds © Katrena

Lucy's Crabby Cabbie is a great first roller coaster for the little ones. Most of the kids who were riding this one walked around numerous times to get back in line over and over. The front car tended to be the most popular with the kids. We were fortunate to pick a date that was not very crowded, so the wait time was minimal.

This ride also offers a great view of the Intimidator roller coaster (red track in the background). One of my older kids practically drooled while watching that huge coaster because she was not quite tall enough this year!

Woodstock Express

I'm going to have to show my age on this one because I remember this one used to be called something like the Scooby Doo Roller Coaster. It later became the Fairly Oddcoaster. Now I've got to get used to the newest name of Woodstock Express.

This is a nice sized wooden coaster for the kids and it is also pretty popular with some adults. You can walk around toward Lucy's Crabby Cabbie and take a look at the track if you want to have more of an idea of where you may be going on a ride named for Snoopy's feathered friend.

Wooden Roller Coaster in Planet Snoopy at Carowinds © Katrena

The Woodstock Express reaches speeds of 35 miles per hour and a few hills might leave your stomach behind. When riding it for the first time, the kids might want to pick a spot near the middle of the coaster because this section tends to give the tamest ride.

If the kids are between 40 and 46 inches, they will need to have a responsible person to ride with them who meets the requirements to ride alone and is at least 16 years old. My 10-year-old and 8-year-old both enjoyed the Woodstock Express and rode it several times when we visited Carowinds. A camera is set up on the largest hill of this roller coaster to catch those fun expressions as riders pick up speed.

I hope you find this information helpful as you look for adventurous outdoor activities in NC that are family-friendly. Readers may also wish to read my article on practical tips for enjoying Carowinds with the family and my article on Carowinds' water park called Boomerang Bay. If you have kids that are a little bigger, you might want to read How Tall Do You Have to Be to Ride the Intimidator? Season pass holders might want to check out the 2013 Carowinds Bring a Friend Dates article. Find more of Katrena's articles at the Travel NC With Kids site map.

Roller Coasters for Children at Carowinds Kids Area © Katrena

Adventure Landing in Winston-Salem NC – Great Place for Miniature Golf

Miniature Golf at Adventure Landing

People who drive on Stratford Road near Hanes Mall in Wintson-Salem cannot miss seeing Adventure Landing, especially if you have kids in the back seat. This is the place with the elephant, giraffe, and a huge waterfall. Actually, they have a crocodile, hippo, and even a turtle too, although you might not notice them from the road. No, Adventure Landing is not a zoo, but it is a fun place to play miniature golf!

Adventure Landing in Winston-Salem NC

Adventure Landing offers three different 18-hole miniature golf courses, and the most popular one is the course with the cave under the largest waterfall called the Cavern Falls Course. My three daughters were quite excited to play this particular course when we visited.

Fun Putt-putt Golf Course on Stratford Rd

They offer different sized putters, so ensure that the kids pick one that is about waist height. Adventure Landing also has small plastic putters for the smallest kids. My kids were tickled to see that they had a variety of different colored golf balls too. Score cards and pencils are also at the desk, and the friendly staff members are more than willing to answer any questions that you may have.

Fun Things to do With Kids in Forsyth County

Each hole is numbered and also gives the par, or number of strokes expected to make the hole. Several kids that were there that day said they made at least one hole in one. My kids had only played miniature golf once before, but they made par on several holes.

Family Activities in Winston-Salem NC

The course starts out with a couple of quite simple holes but gets more challenging with hills and barriers. Probably the most challenging part of the course for my kids was keeping the balls from rolling off the bridge and into the water!

Fun Miniature Golf Course in Piedmont

The waterfall cave was one of my daughters' favorite parts of the course. You can look out behind the waterfalls while inside the cave and there is also a small waterfall inside. This can be a great place to enjoy some shade and cool off a little if playing on a hot and sunny day.

Adventure Landing Miniature Golf Courses

My kids were excited to discover that there are actually two parts to the cave. Players travel one direction through the first side and the course eventually winds back through the other side of the cave.

Fun Things to do Near Hanes Mall

The last hole on the course has a collection chute, so it is helpful to let the kids know that the ball will disappear. The end of this one is conveniently located near the check-in desk, so if you have plans to play another course, ride the bumper boats, or play games inside, you can easily move to the next activity.

Family Activities in Winston

My kids really enjoyed this cool putt-putt golf course in Winston-Salem. Adventure Landing not only offers fun features like a cave, waterfall, and large animal statues, but the staff members are very friendly and helpful.

Adventure Landing - Fun Outdoor Family Activity

Find directions, hours, current prices, special deals, and more at the Adventure Landing web site. You may also wish to read more of Katrena's articles loaded with fun family activity ideas at the Travel NC With Kids and Love 2 Travel With Kids. This fun family activity is located very near Hanes Mall and the Winston-Salem Children's Museum. One of my all-time favorite restaurants, The Carriage House, is across the street in sight of Adventure Landing and snacks are also available at Adventure Landing.