The seventh Smoky Mountain Hot Air Balloon Festival took place Saturday afternoon at the Townsend Visitors Center.
Giant colorful hot air balloons took to the sky as food and craft vendors lined the grassy area of the visitor center. While the festival offers an afternoon of whimsy and fun, it also serves another purpose: the festival raises money for the Townsend Volunteer Fire Department and Townsend Elementary School.
Attendees wanting to get up into the air were able to purchase tickets to take a short ride aboard the tethered balloons…