BC set for Bayou Bowl, Hot Air Balloons

The Bridge City-Orangefield area has a lot going on at the end of the week and people are breathing a sigh of relief as Hurricane Francine moved away from the upper Texas coast.

The Bayou Bowl Classic football game between the Cardinals and Bobcats will be on Friday night and the Bridge City Chamber's Hot Air Balloon Glo Festival will be Saturday evening with giant hot air balloons, 11 food trucks, live bands, and performances by high school dance teams.

The designation "Bayou Bowl" started 25 years ago with Record Newspapers owner, Roy Dunn and son, Mark Dunn coming up with the game between the two high schools in towns along Cow Bayou. The trophy that the winner gets to keep for a year, is called the "Buzzie" after it was named in honor of the late Buzzie Gunn, who photographed decades of Orange County high school football games.

Dunn said Gunn provided the trophy that he bought years earlier when a Beaumont furniture store was closing.

The game this year is at Larry Ward Stadium in Bridge City with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. Bridge City won last year's contest 26-9. The Cardinals have a 2-0 record so far for the season this year and the Bobcats are 1-1.

The Hot Air Balloon Glo Festival is a fundraiser for the Bridge City Chamber of Commerce with gates opening at 5 p.m. Saturday. The event will be at the school grounds of Bridge City Elementary and Intermediate schools off East Roundbunch Road. Admission is $10 with children age 6 and younger getting in free.

Chamber Director Mandy Lyda said the festival will have 10 colorful hot air balloons that will be tethered to the ground. People may pay $25 cash only for a tethered balloon ride, which will allow the riders to float above the festival grounds but not travel away.

"I think everyone is excited," Lyda said. The chamber has been getting calls about advance ticket sales, but everything must be paid at the festival site. She emphasizes that the balloon rides will accept only cash payments.

Two of the balloons will arrived at 6:30 p.m. for viewing Tand then the rest will come after dark, about 8:15 p.m. The propane fires used to create the hot air that causes the balloons to rise make the balloons glow like Chinese lanterns. Attendees should get a look at a unique sight as the tethered balloons go up and down with their riders.

People should bring lawn chairs for sitting as they listen to live music and taste a wide variety of foods. Lyda has recruited food trucks from around the area. The trucks will be Sweet Basil, Sassy Squeeze, Wing Junkiez, Gotham Dogs, Ice Cream Shack, Scratch Kitchen, Artisanal Pizza, Old West Smoke Company, Tacos El Primo, Bobby's Smoker, and for coffee and drinks, revival Brew Box. No outside food or drinks are allowed.

Lyda said because the festival is being held on school grounds, no alcohol or guns will be allowed.

The Bridge City Strutters, Orangefield Sophisticats, and Tiger Rock Martial Arts will give presentations from 5 to 6p.m.

Live music will be played by bands Running on Credit and the Jamie Nichols Band.