The Springs at Sterling on the Lake invites residents and visitors to come experience the many colors of fall with splendid hot air balloons floating serenely above the Village Green. The fourth annual Harvest Balloon Festival is back on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m., and this year’s event promises to be even bigger and better than the last.

Attendees will get to play games, carve pumpkins, go on hay rides, get their faces painted, hear live music and see the awe-inspiring balloon glow that happens over the Village Green on Saturday evening. There will even be food vendors and carnival sweets, so be sure to bring your appetite. In addition, there will be a limited number of balloon rides available on Sunday morning, and attendees will also have the opportunity to soar above the community on tethered balloon rides Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

The Harvest Balloon Festival will donate money raised from parking fees, purchases and balloon rides to two very worthy local charities, the Hall County Animal Shelter and Challenged Child and Friends, an organization that serves children with disabilities through educational, therapeutic, nursing and family counseling services.

Admission is free and parking is $5 per car for the Harvest Balloon Festival. Parking will be offsite this year. To reach the offsite parking location, take I-85N and merge onto I-985N. Take exit 12, Spouts Spring Road, and turn right. Go two miles and pass the Sterling on the Lake community. Turn left into Flowery Branch High School. Shuttles will run all afternoon to and from the festival.

For more information on The Springs at Sterling on the Lake community, visit www.StonecrestHomesGA.com.