MAGNOLIA

Hot air balloons fly in Canton, MS, for Friday morning competition flight

Portrait of Lauren Witte Lauren Witte
A volunteer helps set up the Blue Spirit balloon during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
A volunteer helps set up the Blue Spirit balloon during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Cool Ray is inflated at Harvey Chapel Missionary Baptist for the competition flight in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Cool Ray is inflated at Harvey Chapel Missionary Baptist for the competition flight in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Marshall Gower blows fire into the balloon to get it into the air and the basket right side up during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Marshall Gower blows fire into the balloon to get it into the air and the basket right side up during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Marshall Gower shows a thumbs up to the other hot air balloon crew at that site during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Marshall Gower shows a thumbs up to the other hot air balloon crew at that site during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Two hot air balloons make contact in the sky during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Two hot air balloons make contact in the sky during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Merit Health Madison employees watch as a hot air balloon passes by their building during the competition flight at the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Merit Health Madison employees watch as a hot air balloon passes by their building during the competition flight at the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
The burner ignites, inflating the Cool Ray balloon, during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
The burner ignites, inflating the Cool Ray balloon, during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Hot air balloons head toward the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Hot air balloons head toward the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Cool Ray is inflated for the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Cool Ray is inflated for the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Marshall Gower, left, and Joseph Cole, right, lower the basket from the back of a truck while setting up for the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Marshall Gower, left, and Joseph Cole, right, lower the basket from the back of a truck while setting up for the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Hot air balloons head toward the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Hot air balloons head toward the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Sadie Gower helps hold open the balloon tarp while a fan fills it with air during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Sadie Gower helps hold open the balloon tarp while a fan fills it with air during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Hot air balloons head to landing spots during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Hot air balloons head to landing spots during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
A hot air balloon heads toward the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
A hot air balloon heads toward the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Tesa Gower and her daughter Sadie Gower help hold the balloon tarp open as it is inflated before the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Tesa Gower and her daughter Sadie Gower help hold the balloon tarp open as it is inflated before the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
A hot air balloon is blown up at Harvey Chapel Missionary Baptist for the competition flight in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
A hot air balloon is blown up at Harvey Chapel Missionary Baptist for the competition flight in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Elevate Balloon Crew heads off toward the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Elevate Balloon Crew heads off toward the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Denise and Don Hofmann watch hot air balloons pass during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Denise and Don Hofmann watch hot air balloons pass during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
The Cool Ray balloon flies toward the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
The Cool Ray balloon flies toward the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Hot air balloons pass by Merit Health Madison during the competition flight in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Hot air balloons pass by Merit Health Madison during the competition flight in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Hot air balloons head to landing spots during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Hot air balloons head to landing spots during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
The Cool Ray hot air balloon takes off toward the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
The Cool Ray hot air balloon takes off toward the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
A hot air balloon pilot takes aim at the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
A hot air balloon pilot takes aim at the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Hot air balloons head toward the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Hot air balloons head toward the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Cool Ray is inflated at Harvey Chapel Missionary Baptist for the competition flight in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Cool Ray is inflated at Harvey Chapel Missionary Baptist for the competition flight in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte, Clarion Ledger Via USA TODAY Network
A hot air balloon heads to a landing spot during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
A hot air balloon heads to a landing spot during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Joseph Cole, left, and Marshall Gower, right, connect the balloon tarp to the basket while setting up for the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Joseph Cole, left, and Marshall Gower, right, connect the balloon tarp to the basket while setting up for the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
A hot air balloon heads toward the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
A hot air balloon heads toward the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
Hot air balloons head toward the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Hot air balloons head toward the target during the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger
The Elevate Balloon Crew sets up their hot air balloon for the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
The Elevate Balloon Crew sets up their hot air balloon for the competition flight near the Canton Multipurpose Center in Canton, Miss., on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger