BlackMagic Ballooning

05/03/2022

11/29/2021

Saturday Afternoon December 11th, 2021, The Alabama Jubilee Committee and local Balloon Pilots will have a Christmas Balloon Glow as our gift to the City of Decatur, and our local area. This will take place (Weather Permitting) at the Decatur Baptist Church at the corner of Modus and Danville Roads. Balloon Pilots and crews will meet at 5:00PM and try and have the Balloons inflated by 5:30. We hope to be able to Glow from 5:30 PM until 7:00 PM. The Parking lot of the Decatur Baptist Church will be open for parking along with the school across across Modus road. The Jubilee Committee wants to thank the Decatur Baptist Church for letting us use their property for this event.

BlackMagic will not be at this event (Black Balloons just don't Glow) But I will have the Decatur Balloon for this event.

11/12/2021

BlackMagic is not a Cameron Balloon, but here a little bit of History on Cameron Balloons.

Don Сameron built western Europe's first modern hot air balloon and is now the market leader in special-shaped creations.

09/21/2021

October is shaping up to be a Busy Month, Flights are booked for most weekends for the month. If anyone wants to Crew with me Please let me know. I usually need 2-3 crew for a flight and don't want to wear out all my usual crew. ( Usually do at least one "Crew" flight and try and get anyone that has crewed with me a few times up for a short flight. Breakfast is always on me after a flight too!) Drop me a note here or at Ken Garner on Facebook

07/07/2021

Many Thanks to John M, Bowery, and Laura yesterday. Serendipity was chosen for a photo shoot, so we went down to a private location to have pictures made. I wasn't sure it was going to happen with the winds we had in Decatur, but the weather God calmed the winds at the location we went to. We did have a couple of rain storms come through and Serendipity will need to come out again very soon, but the event went well, with plenty of pictures and video being made. There were a few smiles along with a couple of screams of delight from Georgie! Again, A Big Thank You goes out to John, Bowery and Laura for your help.

05/23/2021

This is from a few years ago,

05/01/2021

Sometimes it takes a while to get together for a Balloon Flight, today was one of those days. We had planned several times only to cancel because of weather or wet conditions, But today was Perfect for a Hot Air Balloon flight over North Alabama. Marianthe and Mike were the perfect passengers, with questions about flying balloons, and the Excitement of a First time Hot Air Balloon flight. The land owner where we landed was very personable and a great host. Lucas and Shelley were Great Crew and were there just after we landed. Hopefully the 2021 Ballooning Season will be better than the 2020 season was and BlackMagic Ballooning can give more people their first Hot Air Balloon flight, and check that off their "Bucket List". I offer Hot Air Balloon Flights around the North Alabama area year round, and will be more than happy to set up a flight for you. Gift Certificates are excellent gift for Birthdays, an Anniversary, or any Special occasion. Let's plan a Hot Air Balloon Flight for you today! Ken Garner

12/08/2020

2003 Alabama Jubilee: General Charles "Chuck" Yeager preparing for his "Slowest Flight Ever". In honor of the 100 years of Man's First Powered Flight, the Jubilee honored General Yeager with a "Life Time Achievement Award" for his history in Aviation. Pictured from right to left: Rita Gaye Gibson, Howard "Hoot" Gibson, General Charles "Chuck" Yeager, Ken Garner, and Yeager's personal assistant Victoria. Fly High and Well Chuck, RIP. (Photo credit to Larry Garner, Thanks for posting)

11/22/2020

Nice Balloon Flight November 21st up in Spring Hill Tn. IF By Chance you were on the Golf Course (or know someone that was) when the Hot Air Balloon flew over and dropped down on the lake on the course and have Pictures or Video, would you please post them to my Face Book Page? There were several people golfing and most had their phones out making pictures and videos. I'd love to have any pictures/videos you are willing to share. Thanks!! Ken Garner

10/16/2020

If you use messenger to contact me, I'll be Glad to send you my phone number. Because of the time it takes most times to reply back and forth with Messenger, I will Not Book flights using only Messenger. There are a few thinks I need to pass on to you and you to me before I book a flight. Plus taking 12 hours to go back and forth on a simply question is just to long. I also need your number in case something happens last minute, (a change in meeting place or a chance in weather) so I can get in touch with you. I've found that I can have a lot more productive phone call in 5 minutes than trying to use messenger over 2-3 days. Thanks, Ken Garner

03/03/2020

The Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic Is Back For Its 43rd Year Of Fun & Festivities

The Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic Is Back For Its 43rd Year Of Fun & Festivities

The Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic is a free event that's located in Decatur. From an antique car show to arts & crafts, this hot air balloon festival offers something for everyone.

12/28/2019

Serendipity near Collierville Tennessee 12-27-2019

12/11/2019

It's that time of year again, Got that one person on your gift list that you're not sure what to get them? Know someone that has a Hot Air Balloon Flight on their "Bucket List"? BlackMagic Ballooning has a Very Nice Gift Certificate that will make a Great Christmas present for that hard to buy for person. I can customize the certificate to say almost anything you want and have it printed for you and ready to pick up today. Give me a call and I'll be glad to make your Gift Certificate today. Ken Garner 256-566-2257

11/18/2019

What do you do when you know of something on you Grand Mothers "Bucket List"? You Give her the Hot Air Balloon Flight she has dream of taking for years!! Jonathan's Grand Mother had wanted to fly in a balloon for years, After taking her to the Alabama Jubilee, (hoping that a tether ride would take care of her desire) after tethering in a balloon she told him "That's Just the start"! So Today was THE DAY!! they came bundled up for the cold, and were Great a passengers, I think they Both Enjoyed the flight!!!

09/25/2019

Simply Southern TV

Helping to promote The Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic!!

It's a good thing Jim Allen isn't afraid of heights. During five seasons, he's ridden in a helicopter and gyrocopter, rappelled down a 10-story building and jumped out of an airplane. Now, he soars above land in a hot air balloon during the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic in Decatur. For more than 40 years, the annual Memorial Day festival has brought thousands of tourists and aviation enthusiasts to the river city.

07/13/2019

BlackMagic at Bartlett Tn Tether a few years ago.

06/14/2019

If you are interested in booking a flight or wanting more information Please Call Me. Sometimes messages don't get to me through Facebook for a while. I just received 3 messages from May last night. It's best to call me for information. 256-566-2257 Thanks, Ken Garner

04/28/2019

Is flying in a Hot Air Balloon on Mom's Bucket List??? I do have Gift Certificates Available!!

04/28/2019

Saturday April 27th saw BlackMagic Ballooning's Serendipity flying a Great Family of 3 from the Wiregrass area over the Athens area and the New Athens High School! What a wonder Family, Great to see James and his Daughter Ashley able to keep the secret from mom Marna and surprise her with a Hot Air Balloon Flight!! I'm not sure we could have ask for a better day to fly...

04/05/2019

8 Reasons Why the Hot Air Balloons Didn’t Fly at the Festival

8 Reasons Why the Hot Air Balloons Didn’t Fly at the Festival

It’s a beautiful day for a hot air balloon festival, but suddenly, the announcer comes over the loudspeaker and says that the balloons, unfortunately, will not be flying. The safety officer i…

03/29/2019

Anyone in the East Athens Area see BlackMagic Flying this morning (March 290)? We had a Great Flight with 3 friend in the basket... There may be a UTube Video coming in a couple of weeks!!

03/16/2019

Hearing a Rumble that several of Us are planning on getting out and Flying Sunday Morning ( March 17, 2019) There may be as many as 8 of us out in the morning.. Meeting time looks like 7 AM at Home Depot in Decatur... Come out, there may be a need for extra crew to help,, or at least watch a "Mimi Jubilee"!!

11/23/2018

The Ranch Film Studios

Weekend trip to New Orleans, I took the Decatur Balloon and inflated it once during the weekend, I was suppose to do tethers with Serendipity most of the weekend but the Winds were high and the Rains from the week before had the field really wet.

Bayou Road Balloon Festival is one of many awesome events that goes on in our Parish.

We are proud to have been one of the event’s sponsors, and we’re glad we were able to capture some footage of these balloons in the air.

10/22/2018

Balloon Federation of America

Balloon Federation of America

Today in Ballooning History: October 22, 1960 Paul "Ed" Yost and a team from Raven industries flew the first modern hot air balloon in Bruning, Nebraska. The balloon was sold 2 years later to an individual and thus Hot Air Ballooning became a sport.
Click the link below for a short video of the flight.

08/11/2018

Visitation for Wilda Fowler Garner, my Mother will be Monday Afternoon, August 13th, from 5:30-7:30 with a short Memorial from 7:30-8:00 at the Hartselle Church of Christ, 700 Sparkman St. Hartselle, Alabama. Burial will be Tuesday 10:00 AM Tuesday, August 14th, at Hartselle Memory Gardens. All Friends and Family are welcome to come pay respects to Mom.

07/28/2018

Looks like Several of us will be flying this morning, July 28th, South West Decatur you may have a small balloon rally this morning! 😉😉

07/03/2018

BlackMagic Ballooning had a Busy weekend June 30th and July 1st. Flight on Saturday morning in the Decatur Balloon, A Glow in Murfreesboro Tn Saturday night and a flight in Serendipity Sunday morning with the James Warner "gang" from the Atlanta area!

Thanks to Great Crew, John, Kelly, Marc, Laura, John and Jack, we had Great flights and a god time! (If you might have pictures of any of these flights, feel free to post them on the page)

11/29/2017

It's that time of year, Have you got that one person that's hard to find a gift for or has always wanted to fly in a Hot Air Balloon? BlackMagic Ballooning has a Great looking Gift Certificate that can be customize to almost anything you would want to say on the certificate. The certificate is good for a year, so the flight can be scheduled at a time of their choice. (Flight can not be scheduled during the Alabama Jubilee). You can call me, for more info. 256-566-2257

09/25/2017

One off the "Bucket List" this morning for Brenda, Eric, Grace and Patricia! Out of Hartselle toward Danville, a Great Flight! BlackMagic took to the sky just after 7:10 this morning for over an hour, landing about 9 miles from our nice green grass launch site to a Great green lawn!! Great Passengers, Great Crew, (Thanks John M and Sam L). We all enjoyed the flight and will be wishing Brenda the Best!

09/19/2017

First flight with Sheep, duck and rooster- September 19, 1783!!

09/15/2017

Looking like a Beautiful Day tomorrow Morning,, Crew anyone?

09/15/2017

Any one see Serendipity yesterday around the Cullman Hospital? I did something exciting yesterday and Hope to be able to post it on the FaceBook page in about a month. For those of you that may not know I purchased a New to me balloon back in October of last year and have been flying it a good bit this year, Serendipity is multi colored and a little bigger than BlackMagic, Yesterday we helped video a commercial for the Cullman Regional Hospital. Great people to work with and Great Crew with John and Bowery M and Brad P and Shelley S!

12/09/2016

Any one up for a Cold Weather Flight Saturday morning? Polling to see if I can get enough crew to fly..

12/09/2016

Thinking about giving a Christmas give to someone that has everything? What about a HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE? Yes BlackMagic Ballooning does have a Very Nice Gift Certificate that can be customized any way you would like. Call or PM me and find out about my Gift Certificates!

12/02/2016

Thinking about Flying Saturday Morning,,, Anyone interested in Crewing??

11/08/2016

Lining up to be a Busy weekend for BlackMagic this weekend, Flights planned for Saturday Mourning, Saturday Afternoon and Sunday morning as of right now. I'll be looking for Crew for all 3 flights, so If you have ever wanted to be around a balloon, help and learn a little about what it is like to crew a balloon, let me know and I'll let you know where we will be.