There are few sights more memorable than bright blue sky filled with hot air balloons. This weekend in Perry County, Marion residents were treated to just such a sight.

The annual Heritage Day Festival filled Marion’s skies with multi-colored eye candy. But the festival is more than just an opportunity for Perry Countians to enjoy visuals.

The festival packed the senses with pleasing sights, sounds, smells and tastes as hundreds of Perry County citizens came out and enjoyed each other’s company.

Vendors sold the typical fair fare, while everyone enjoyed the colorful balloon races.

Booths lined the town square as vendors and bargain shoppers battled it out to see who could get the best deal.

It was a day for citizens of Marion to appreciate the little slice of Alabama they call home.

Especially around election time it becomes easy to forget that everyone is working towards a common goal, making our community a better place to live.

We get consumed by politics, competition and bickering.

We worry so much about making our community better in the future, we forget to stop and take the time to enjoy the good things our community has to offer now

The city of Marion took this weekend and did just that.

Whether it was toe-tapping music, face-painting or a nice, cold ice cream on a warm late spring day, Marion residents got out and enjoyed their town and they did it together.

It probably didn’t take Perry Countians long to get back to the business of going to work, finishing school and preparing for an election.

But it’s nice that they stopped and took the time to appreciate the very community they work so hard for.