The Freedom Balloon Fest is an admission free event held to honor military veterans in a fun and memorable way. To be held on Memorial Day Weekend for four days from the 27th of May to the 30th, it will host different, fun and exciting events, and offers an opportunity for families and friends to have fun outdoors.

The major event of the day, of course, is the dozens of hot air balloons that will fill the sky to celebrate with over thirty balloon pilots and teams on the ground to compete in a friendly environment.

While the major attraction might be the mass ascension of the participating balloons on Friday, attendees have the opportunity to enjoy a fun ride in their choice of hot air balloons. The Fleming Loop Park in Fuquay-Varina will be engorged with people from across the area.

Vendors displaying different artworks and crafts will also be present at the event in the Village Marketplace, plus transportation will be available to downtown shops and restaurants.

Mad Hatter, (http://www.madhatternc.com), located at 107 S. Main Street in Fuquay-Varina, a small shop is a typical example of the saying that big things come in small packages.

This shop sells ladies hats purchased from NYC's Fashion District, loose leaf teas, and gifts. Other products that are sold by Mad Hatter include beautiful teacups and teapots, specialty food products from locally made seasonings, barbecue sauce and vinegar, along with locally made soaps and hand lotions. This small shop has been featured in several magazines, newspaper articles, and continues to bring customers in from hours away, so it is a must see if you are in town, especially if you love hats or loose leaf teas.

The Meeting Corner or TMC, (http://themeetingcorner.com/), as it is sometimes called, is another customer-oriented business in Downtown Fuquay-Varina that has served the people of Fuquay-Varina good food since Edna founded it in 2012.

This Puerto Rican restaurant, located at 135 S. Main Street, is the home of fresh cooked food. This storefront has become a popular place to visit for locals. Customers are welcomed with sweet Latin music and the aroma of fresh food cooking in the kitchen.

The growth in businesses in Fuquay-Varina can be highly attributed to the collaboration of the different small businesses and support from the community.

Edna Morales, owner of The Meeting Corner, stated

"We are excited for the Freedom Balloon Fest and the chance for visitors to see that Fuquay-Varina has worked hard to be A Dash More! Local businesses are thriving because we support each other and have so much support from the community. We buy our teas from Mad Hatter, coffee from Sludge Coffee Roasters, and Stick Boy Bakery started baking my pan de agua when the restaurant got too busy. The Meeting Corner started as a small Puerto Rican lunch spot and consignor boutique. We still have a space with vintage and flea market finds, but we had to add more tables thanks to our growing family of regulars and newcomers. The storefront window has become a fun way to share our excitement for featured menu items or special events, such as hosting a United Arts Council dinner and our celebration of the Freedom Balloon Fest coming to town!"

In the collaborative spirit of the people of Fuquay-Varina, Rachel Cornett, an artist who paints shop windows, is employed by TMC working twice a week, and currently working on a children's book. Rachel has always been a customer of TMC and subsequently got a job with the restaurant in 2014. Her creative talent in conjunction with support from the owner of TMC has not only helped her in contributing her quota to the growth of the business, but also motivated her to do more towards helping others and pursuing her life goals. Rachel stated "I am thankful to be involved with a downtown that is driven to help others succeed and is so supportive of the arts. Through TMC, I have met so many inspirational people that have encouraged me to actively pursue my love of creating. Edna (The Meeting Corner) and Bobbie (Mad Hatter) have given me artistic license to design windows that incorporate their business needs, personal interests, and their love of downtown. I love interacting with people walking by, some are regulars and others discover a new spot because they stopped to watch the painting." She has been able to design the TMC windows and paint the glass in the door at Mad Hatter, attracting, even more customers, and as a child of a veteran, being a part of the Freedom Balloon Fest and the Memorial Weekend is more than a chance to showcase her talent to the world.

The Freedom Balloon Fest (http://www.wralfreedomballoonfest.com/) is an opportunity for everyone to socialize and enjoy the friendly and lovely environment Fuquay-Varina has to offer. With the likes of Meeting Corner and Mad Hatter available to cater to the different needs of attendees, and lots of fun and exciting events available for all ages, it is definitely an event to look forward to and a memorable one at that.