Ascension Parish balloon event moved to September

Organizers of an Ascension Parish balloon festival have moved the event date a second time in two weeks, citing conflicts with local events and a major hot air ballooning competition in Albuquerque, N.M.

Organizers tell The Advocate the Louisiana Hot Air Balloon Championship Festival at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center near Gonzales is scheduled from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 21-22.

Ascension Festivals and Cultural Council Inc. officials earlier had called for an Oct. 5-7 balloon festival, but ran into conflicts with the Festival of Friends, a Catholic school fair in Gonzales; a Boy Scout gathering; and the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.