The 2013 Great Mississippi River Balloon Race has come and gone. Friends, family, pilots and spectators have gone back to their homes. Old stories were told, and new stories were made. Despite less than accommodating weather, another safe and fun balloon race has made the history books.

It is no secret that this was a tough year for the balloon race. The show, however, will go on in 2014. The board has done a good job of creating a rainy day fund so that if we had a hard year we could perpetuate the race for at least one more year. Of course, we would like to have more money in the bank so that we could offer better entertainment without increasing gate fees or sponsorship dues, but putting on an event of this size is expensive. Year after year expenses go up, and for the majority of the past 28 years of the balloon race, we’ve been able to keep gate and sponsorship prices fairly flat. We rely on local sponsors, gate and concession sales for our income, and in return, we try to put on an event of the highest quality and still work within our means. It is a difficult task.

Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate this year and gate numbers and lack of flights reflected that. When the weather is bad, balloons do not fly, the gate suffers, the vendors suffer, the t-shirt sales suffer, the drink sales suffer and, ultimately, the balloon race suffers. It is a domino effect. However, for so many years, we have been blessed with amazing weather, many flights, great performances and amazing vendors.

We’ve been doing the balloon race for more than a quarter century, and the fact is we are going to have some bad years. What we do after those bad years is what will define the future of the balloon race in the coming years. We cannot do anything about the weather, and balloon flights are weather dependent. What we can do is look at what we can change. Those things include: music lineup, vendor setup, additional attractions, additional partnerships and sponsors and so on. Preparations for the 2014 Great Mississippi River Balloon Races have already started believe it or not, and these are things we are looking at.

The balloon race is a big event for Natchez. I’ve heard some people liken it to the “Super Bowl of Natchez.” It and Pilgrimage are the two largest tourism events in Natchez, and I would venture to say that the balloon race is one of the premier balloon events in the southeast. It benefits Natchez directly and indirectly through sales taxes, but also as a way to greet people into our beautiful area. For many people, it sets the tone for the “Natchez Experience.” It is the goal of the GMRBR Board to perpetuate and enhance that experience.

There is no doubt that 2013 was a tough year for the Great Mississippi River Balloon Races, but that actually encourages and inspires me. Getting out of the rut of the status quo often inspires new ideas and creativity. I have no doubt that the balloon race you see in 2014 will have new life, new ideas and new energy.

I look forward to seeing record scores of people at the 2014 balloon races starting with the person reading this article.

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but rising up every time we fall.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tate Hobdy is a member of the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race board.