The residents of Longview have been celebrating after finding out that the US National Hot Air Balloon Championship will take place in their community for at least another year. Officials from the Great Texas Balloon Race unveiled the exciting news on Monday.
Next year’s event will be the fourth to be held in Longview and it is hoped that it will be the best yet. The Championship was originally scheduled for just a three-year stretch in the city, alongside the Great Texas Balloon Race, but the region’s enthusiasts wanted the celebration to stay in its current location so an appeal to extend the contract for another year was submitted.
Luckily, this application was accepted and Longview’s aviation fans can expect another great year of hot air ballooning in the area.
Speaking about the extension, Bill Bussey, the founder of the much-loved Balloon Race, said:
“I am beyond pleased with the extra year for the Hot Air Balloon National Championship, 2015, which has been granted to us by the Balloon Federation of America. The top winners of the 2014 and 2015 Nationals will make up the team that represents the United States at the world Championship in 2016.”
It is hoped the event will give a much needed boost to the area’s economy, as well as providing some great entertainment over the skies of Longview well into 2016. More information on the occasion can be found on the official Great Texas Balloon Race’s website.
