By Shannon McFarlin, News Director
Paris, Tenn.–The hot air ballon festival is returning to Eiffel Tower Park in Paris!
At this morning’s meeting of the Henry County Tourism Authority, Paris-Henry County Industrial Committee Assistant Director Tara Wilson presented a proposal to bring the popular festival back to Paris, which was approved by the Tourism Authority board. Wilson is also the Executive Director of the Downtown Paris Association.
The festival will be held next May or September and the board approved funding of $30,000 for it, which would involve the engagement of the Skycab Balloons of Louisville, Ky.
Wilson said the Tourism Authority will be the host of the event entirely, with the City of Paris partnering. Wilson said she had been working on the proposal for some time because she had been thinking that the festival needed to return to Paris and has been setting the wheels in motion to make that happen. “It’s been a lot of work, but I’m excited about it. It’s one of those things that I’ve been thinking about for awhile now,” she said. “I’ve been talking with the city, with Tony Lawrence (Parks and Recreation Director) about the logistics of how we’ll handle everything.”
For several years, the hot air balloon festival was one of Paris’ signature events.
Also approved this morning were the 2026 Bassmaster Collegiate, High School and Jr. High National championship tournaments for $100,000. The tourneys will be held at Paris Landing State Park.
City of Paris photo.