NATCHEZ — Hot-air balloons are expected to fill the skies this morning, kicking off the 31st annual Great Mississippi River Balloon Race.

Officials are hopeful that weather conditions will make most, if not all scheduled flights possible this weekend. Even the once-popular Saturday afternoon barge drop event that was eliminated from the lineup in 2011, may make a return this year, officials say.

The first event of the weekend is this morning’s media flight, which is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m.

To know where and when the balloons will fly this weekend, sign up for free text alerts at natchezdemocrat.com. Alerts can be sent to your phone via text message or to your email address.

The morning flight also doubles as competition that combines hot-air ballooning and cycling. Cyclists and pilots are paired up in teams to test the abilities of balloonists to hit a target with a beanbag and land their balloons and the ability of cyclists to navigate their way to the Natchez Visitor Center from where the balloons land.

The annual balloon glow starts at 7 p.m. today at the Rosalie Bicentennial Gardens on the south end of Broadway Street. Pilots will inflate their balloons, but not take off, to give people a chance to see the glowing balloons up close.

Other balloons will also be stationed on the Vidalia Riverfront and other spots in downtown Natchez and along the river.

Capping off the evening will be fireworks and live music at the festival site by local band Bishop Gunn.

Balloon flights are scheduled for 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday and then again at 7 a.m. Sunday, weather permitting.

Officials hope wind conditions Saturday afternoon will allow the return of the once-popular barge drop event. During the event, pilots aim their balloons to fly over a barge positioned in the middle of the river, so that they can drop a beanbag onto a target on the deck of the barge.

The event, which is scheduled for 4 p.m., can be viewed from both sides of the river.

The festival grounds open at 11 a.m. Saturday for a day filled with music, featuring Dumpstaphunk at 5:30 p.m. and The Revivalists at 7:30 p.m.

For the second year, Blufftoberfest will feature the best in the region’s craft beer offering, along with German biergarten-style food and games. The event is from 11 a.m. until closing Saturday on the festival grounds.

Balloon race T-shirts and posters will be available at the festival site.

Gates open at noon Sunday and will close at 6 p.m.

No pets, ice chests, tents, weapons, illegal substances, food or beverages will be allowed through the gates.