Oh, what a beautiful sight. The skies above the Mississippi River Bridge filled with balloons by the dozen early Sunday morning, creating a breathtaking view.

The Sunday race topped off a great weekend with a successful balloon glow and two races Saturday.

The weather was just right — for the second year in a row — and the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race was all that it was supposed to be.

The race is our favorite local event, but it’s not the only thing worth mentioning this week.

Let’s review some other good news.

4Thanks to community donors and school district support, the Robert Lewis Middle School orchestra is still planning a big trip. The group was invited to play in the National Orchestra Festival in Atlanta, but early last week, it seemed like they wouldn’t have enough funds to make the first trip deposit.

A grassroots effort to raise the needed funds succeeded.

4 The Vidalia Conference and Convention Center — open for months — has now been officially dedicated. U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu spoke at a ceremony Thursday. The building is a wonderful addition to the entire Miss-Lou.

4Ferriday is currently home to a museum exhibit worthy of national attention. The Smithsonian Museum has brought a traveling exhibit on Delta blues music to town. We hope locals will take the opportunity to view the exhibit and attend some planned shows.

Now that the balloons are gone for another year, it’s time to rest up and print out some of your favorite photos from the weekend. The holiday season is coming soon, and you’ll need to conserve your energy.