The Hudson Hot Air Affair is back this year, but in a new location.

The popular balloon rally and winter festival, which will be Feb.  7-9, is moving to River Crest Elementary School, 535 County Road F, just south of Hudson. Construction at the Hot Air Affair’s usual site, E.P. Rock Elementary School, necessitated the change in location, officials said.

All of the events, including balloon launches (weather permitting), Marketplace and Craft Fair, smoosh board competition, prize drop fundraiser and the Moon Glow/Field of Fire, are moving to the River Crest Elementary School grounds.

There is limited parking at River Crest, so free shuttle buses will be available to attendees on Feb. 8. All guests must take a shuttle bus to attend events at River Crest School on Feb. 8; only handicap parking will be available at the school on Feb. 8, and it will be limited to a first-come, first-served basis, organizers said.

Shuttle bus stops and parking will be available at: Hudson High School, Hudson United Methodist Church, Faith Community Church and the Plaza 94 Shopping Center. Shuttle buses will travel back and forth from these pick-up locations to River Crest School from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; shuttle details are available at HudsonHotAirAffair.com/shuttle.

Thirty hot air balloons are scheduled to participate in morning launches at 7:35 a.m. Feb. 8 and 9.

“With cooperation from Mother Nature, spectators can expect to see a launch field full of colorful hot air balloons inflate, lift off and fly in a mass ascension flight,” organizers said in a press release. If the morning flight on Feb. 8 is canceled due to weather, a 3 p.m. launch is planned. People planning to attend the Moon Glow/Field of Fire, from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. on Feb. 8, should plan to come at least a half-hour early to catch one of the free shuttle buses to the school, organizers said.

Other activities include a Torchlight Parade at 7 p.m. Feb. 7, with a fireworks display to follow. The Mason’s Pancake Breakfast, the Marketplace and Craft Fair, the Lions Club’s Bean Bag Tournament, the Fat Bike Race, Octagon House Museum tours, the Rotary’s St. Croix River Dunk, the Smoosh Board Competition, a prize drop fundraiser and the Booster’s Bingo will be Feb. 8.

A breakfast at Big Guys BBQ Roadhouse, and a free kids’ ice fishing event on Perch Lake, with equipment, mentors and gifts for all the kids, will be Feb. 9.

For more information, go to HudsonHotAirAffair.com.

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