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Organizers are bringing one of the nation"s premier hot air balloon festivals to Zebulon"s Bennett Bunn Plantation with planned public events also scheduled for Spring Forest Road Park in North Raleigh. More than 40 balloon pilots and teams from across the nation will attend.

WRAL Freedom Balloon Fest invite the public to a mass ascension of all participating balloons, followed by a balloon "glow" just after sunset on Friday, May 22 at Bennett Bunn Plantation in Zebulon. Events in Zebulon continue on Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings with competition balloon flights.

Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, spectators are invited to experience ballooning up close with pilot "meet-and-greet" events, tethered balloon rides and an evening balloon glow each night at both Bennett Bunn Plantation and Spring Forest Road Park. All ballooning events and activities are wind and weather-dependent.

No coolers at either location please. For water and other soft drinks, visit any of the Pepsi Hydration Stations at either festival location - 100% of the net profits benefit local charities.

They"ll have a large variety of Got To Be NC products prepared by Old North State Catering at Bennett Bunn Plantation. Enjoy food trucks at Spring Forest Road Park.

Balloons fly early in the morning and late afternoon. Morning flights are from approximately at 6:00-9:30a.m. All morning flights are at Bennett Bunn Plantation. Come and watch the pilots show their skills using nothing but the wind to steer. Afternoon flights and tethered rides begin around 6:00p.m. (surface winds need to be below 6 m.p.h. for tethered rides to start). Flight/tether times are approximate and depend upon wind and weather. Tethered Rides require a signed a waiver of liability; children 18 and under must have a signature by a parent or guardian. Want to take a Balloon Flight. Bring your camera/smart phone. This is a selfie-rich environment.

Wear sunscreen and a hat is a good idea too. Closed-toed walking shoes are strongly recommended.

Bring a folding chair(s) and/or a picnic blanket but keep your items small and light to carry on a shuttle bus

Please don"t litter. Use the appropriate Waste Industries solid waste and/or recycling receptacle.

There is NO SMOKING allowed at either Bennett Bunn Plantation or Spring Forest Road Park. Pets should be left at home (service animals are allowed).

There"s no admission fee to attend the fun with family and friends. A crowd favorite, enjoy watching a field of balloons inflate and launch into a late-spring sky as a kick off to the WRAL Freedom Balloon Fest.

After sunset, many of the balloons will either stay or return to the field for you to enjoy a balloon "glow." Be sure to charge your phone or cameras to capture the beautiful sights. The glow is also free to attend.

They plan to open the venue at 3:00pm to give you plenty of time to enjoy the afternoon. They strongly recommend arriving early.

Come see pilots challenged to show how well they can control their balloons. Each morning, you"ll see balloons flying into Bennett Bunn Plantation competing for points, prizes and, of course, bragging rights.

In the afternoon, we"ll have pilot "meet-and-greet" events where you can get a tour of balloon baskets, collect balloon cards and learn about the oldest form of manned flight.

Late in the day, get a taste of what it feels like to fly in a hot air balloon in a tethered balloon. While there"s no admission fee to attend the fun with family and friends - there will be a nominal fee for tethered rides.

After sunset, enjoy the balloon "glow" but be sure to charge your phone or cameras to capture the beautiful sights. The glow is also free to admission.

Field of Flags
Their mission to celebrate freedom, honor our veterans and to remember the fallen really comes together with our Field of Flags. You can do all three - celebrate, honor and remember when you buy a US flag in honor of a loved one who serves, has served or who gave the ultimate in military service. Each flag is $2. They will be displayed at the Bennett Bunn festival site. Their goal is to cover the Field of Flags with as many as 10,000 flags. The best news 100% of the net proceeds from the sale of these memorial size flags go directly to the veteran"s assistance focused mission of the AMVETS Service Foundation of North Carolina. Please click this link to learn more and donate the cost of as many US flags as you can.

Freedom Balloon Fest - Zebulon