HUDSON – The annual Hudson Hot Air Affair Torchlight Parade kicked off the community’s winter festival in downtown Hudson Friday night, Feb. 6. Star Wars characters lead the parade with an outer space Wookie in the Stillwater Balloons’ gondolas next to the parade Grand Marshal Jim Wookey, CEO of the corporate sponsor WESTconsin Credit Union.

Top parade awards were given in five categories:

Best Theme: Dan Strutz from Yale, S.D., sponsored by the Hudson Vintage Neighborhood Alliance

Best Energy: Glenn O’Connell from Gilberts, Ill., sponsored by Lift Me Up Balloon/Evy and John Nerbonne 

Most Artistic/Flaming Action: Bethany Reuter from Oakdale, Minn., sponsored by Ink n’ Threadz

Best Use of Light & Glow Effects: Donna Wiederkehr from South Minneapolis, sponsored by the Matt Wiederkehr Legacy

Spirit of Community & Teamwork: Festival Foods of Hudson

Hot air balloon pilots from seven states attended the annual mid-winter celebration.  Activities continued through Sunday with ballooning events on Saturday and Sunday, plus other contests, activities and family focused events.

Balloon pilots led education programs on Friday afternoon at E.P. Rock School in Hudson, St. Croix Central Elementary in Roberts and Greenwood Elementary in River Falls.

Hot Air Affair committee members felt that Saturday morning’s static display of inflated balloon envelopes drew the largest crowd of visitors in many years. Balloons never left the ground all weekend due to weather challenges of high winds and wind direction. Balloon meet and greet sessions happened both Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning plus a Field of Fire filled the athletic field at E.P. Rock school on Saturday night.

Submitted by Hot Air Affair Committee