The winds of change blew into the Hotel Vue Thursday night when officials with the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race announced changes to the annual event.
Organizers announced a new name, a new logo and a new direction for entertainment for the festival on the third weekend in October.
“As everyone knows, the past two years have been disastrous,” Balloon Race Committee member Mimi Miller said. “We recognize that weather was the culprit, and we can’t control the weather. However, we think some changes will help us mitigate the threat of weather and better explain to the general public what the event is all about.”
Beginning this year, the event will be known as the Natchez Balloon Festival, Miller said.
The name change, Miller said, was made for three reasons.