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Hot Air Balloon Festival! This festival features balloons of all shapes and sizes, a fireworks extravaganza, entertainment, and lots of fun. Of course, the real excitement centers around the bal- loons. You’ll be mesmerized by the mirage of colors decorating the summer sky. There is a vast array of competitive events for pilots to test their balloon savvy in pursuit of valuable cash prizes. Be sure and save some energy for the ever popular Balloon Glows at sunset. Children and adults alike will delight at the sight of the balloons flickering and dancing in the evening twilight. The Mis- sissippi Balloon Festival is wholesome entertainment and an old- fashioned weekend of togetherness. Many people do not realize the Canton is also the movie capital of Mississippi. The town’s special ambiance and sense of place have drawn the interest of the film industry’s best directors as the on-location destination of choice. Long known as the City of Lights, Canton has now become the City of Lights, Camera, Action! Word spread among such film greats as the Coen Brothers and Joel Schumacher about the wealth of scenic and cultural resources to be found along these historic streets. A Time to Kill, My Dog Skip, O Brother, Where Art Thou (Coen Brothers) , The Rising Place, and many other films, documentaries, and commercials have been filmed on location in Canton. But more important than the fantasy world of movies, Canton’s true legacy is in its rich history. In 1982, the Canton Courthouse Square District was officially entered into the National Register of Historic Places and declared one of three best examples in the State of Mississippi. The Square also boasts two contributions to the Mississippi Blues Trail. Hickory Street, known locally as “The Hollow,” was a hub of social life, commerce, and entertainment for the African American community of central Mississippi for several decades, up through the 1970s. Additionally, Club Desire — or New Club Desire, as it was actu- ally named for most its tenure — was a Canton landmark for several decades. It was best known for providing the African Amer- ican community with first-class entertainment in a celebratory but elegant atmosphere. The club was one of Mississippi's premier blues and rhythm and blues nightclubs from the late 1940s through the early 1960s. Owner Clarence Chinn presented the top national acts, including B. B. King, Bobby Blue Bland, Little Junior Parker, James Brown, Ivory Joe Hunter, Big Joe Turner, Hank Ballard & the Midnighters, and the Platters. In the ’60s the club also served as an important meeting place for civil rights workers. Another “must visit” on your list of Canton attractions is The Canton Multicultural Center and Museum. It is a celebration of the diverse cultures and contributions of the citizens of Canton and Madison County to the history of the city, state, and nation. The permanent exhibit focuses on the history, family life, business and community life of African Americans and recounts their strug- gle for civil rights. And no visit to Canton would be complete without popping into the CantonMuseum of History. Explore artifacts of merchant stores and businesses that were a major part of our history and growth, and hear one of Canton's favorite storytellers, Jim Ritchie, along the way. On display you'll see an antique butter churn, a bank teller’s adding machine, a pharmacist’s medicine counter, and even an old fashion coke machine cooler. For the more mature visitor, no doubt happy memories of childhood will come flooding back. No doubt all of the exploring and site seeing will whet your ap- petite. No worries! From fast food to fine dining, Canton offers a dining experience for every taste! n 14 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com Canton Flea Market