Colorful balloons fill Helens skies for 39th annual festival - Gainesville Times

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Colorful balloons fill Helens skies for 39th annual festival

More than 20 balloons filled up

David Bristol, pilot for Evening Star of Sautee, Ga., uses his burners Thursday to get his balloon in the air during the 39th Annual Helen to the Atlantic Hot Air Balloon Race in Helen. - photo by SARA GUEVARA

06010balloon — David Bristol, pilot for Evening Star of Sautee, Ga., uses his burners Thursday to get his balloon in the air during the 39th Annual Helen to the Atlantic Hot Air Balloon Race in Helen. - photo by SARA GUEVARA

Ben Drennan saw his first hot-air balloon when he was 12 years old. From that point on, he was hooked. At 16, he got his pilot’s license.