FOLEY, Ala. — The fourth annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival will float through Foley this Father’s Day weekend.

Over 50 balloons will brighten up the skies and the festival will liven up the grounds with loads of entertainment for a weekend with the family.

“It’s going to be bigger and better in terms of entertainment,” said LaDonna Hinesley, communications director for the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce.

The festival will include 25 arts and crafts booths, a children’s village, food vendors and too many other attractions to mention.

A challenging tournament of Survivor Croquet will pit teams against each other all competing for a grand prize of $750. Two teams of six play against each other aiming for the opposing goal, clashing at the center wicket. The winning team is the first team to reach their goal or the team with the highest point total, meaning the team that clears the most wickets. To sign up for the tournament contact Terry Burkle at the chamber of commerce by calling 251-943-5520 or email her at terryb@southbaldwinchamber.com.

Drawing a large crowd will be the tether rides offered from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. People will get the chance to take a 50 foot flight up in a hot air balloon.

Tommy Rachel, owner and pilot of the Blue Angel hot air balloon, said that the feeling of taking flight is exhilarating.

“It’s like someone grabs you by the seat of your pants and gently lifts you off the ground,” said Rachel, who will be conducting tether flights. He said that there is no turbulence in a tether flight, and that everyone he has ever taken up has such a thrill.

“There’s something special about it,” he said.

The 50 balloons featured will be coming in from surrounding states with a few exceptions like the Energizer Hot Hare which is traveling all the way from New Mexico.

The inflatable pink rabbit is the only character shaped balloon in the bunch this year and it towers over a regular hot air balloon. The average height of a balloon is 60 feet tall; the Energizer Hot Hare balloon comes in at 166 feet.

Hinesley stressed that the best time to come to see the balloons will be either early in the morning or late in the day. While the balloons will be inflated during the day, they can only take flight within two hours of sunrise and sunset. Waiting to attend the festival until the end of the day will give people a chance to view the balloons while they glow.

“At night they glow from inside, so after they do their flight they set down and glow,” said Hinesley, who explained that the sight is not one to be missed.

Two headliners will entertain festival goers this weekend. Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster will play on Friday night and the Tip Tops will play on Saturday night.

Following the Tip Tops will be a new feature for the festival. At 9:45 p.m. the evening will end with a bang as a firework show lights up the sky.

The three day event will begin on Friday 13 and will last through Sunday the 15.

Brochures can be found at the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce office in Heritage Park.

Festival grounds will once again be located at the Foley Soccer Complex on west Hwy 98. The only entrance for the festival is on Hwy 98 and will lead to a one way exit.

Instead of parking at the festival, spectators can catch a BRATS shuttle bus at Heritage Park.

The free event is presented by the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce and its title sponsor is AT&T The Real Yellow Pages.