Midland Balloon Festival

Yesterday we went to the Midland Balloon Festival. It's an event the city has every year out at the county fairgrounds. Each year dozens of balloonists come out for the festival. People get to tailgate out at the fairgrounds parking lot and watch all the balloons fly overhead, watch parachutists, and then stick around for the "afterglow" where all the balloons light up at night. It was a lot of fun, and totally free. Our friends the Manchesters were out there with their family and relatives, and they were kind enough to invite us to join them. We spent the afternoon and night grilling and cooking out, listening to the Michigan State/Notre Dame game on the radio, and of course watching all the balloons fly overhead. The kids especially had a blast all afternoon. Ben was just fascinated by it all I think. He said he was sad when it was all over. Megan liked it as well I think, but she didn't care for the "afterglow." I think she thought it was going to be like fireworks or something. Anyway, we all had a good time. We went to this event a few years ago, but it was no where near as impressive as this year's event. It was fun.