Photo: Jacki Bradham
The popular winter festival has returned to the St. Croix Valley.
The Hudson Hot Air Affair winter ballooning festival is back for another great year. This annual family-friendly event combines the joy of hot air balloons with community spirit in a variety of locations throughout Hudson and the surrounding areas. “The theme will be ‘magic,’” says Hot Air Affair’s president Michelle Webb.
An enchanted torchlight parade featuring prizes will march on Friday, February 3 to kick off the event in downtown Hudson at Main Street. Saturday will begin at the EP Rock School grounds with the first balloon launch that is set to include over 30 hot air balloons, followed by a pancake breakfast in downtown at Masonic Lodge. After, there will be geocaching, a marketplace with food and crafts and events, such as the St. Croix River Dunk. There will also be plenty of fun competitions including the wacky Smoosh Board competition. “Teams can dress up for our theme,” Webb says. “You get [to see] some really crazy outfits.”
Saturday night will conclude with the Moon Glow if conditions are right, or the cozy Field of Fire at the EP Rock School grounds. Sunday will begin with the last balloon launch at school grounds followed by a fat bikes race and a kids’ ice fishing competition at Perch Lake. Throughout the weekend, local vendors will be on-site or around town with promotional deals.
Find more details and information at hudsonhotairaffair.com.
