Pine Knot News - A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news

The folks at Black Bear Casino Resort turned a torn-down hotel into an opportunity, by planting grass on the demolition site and hosting a hot air balloon festival next weekend.

Up to a dozen hot air balloons (and their pilots) will convene there Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15-16, for the 2023 Kismet in Carlton Hot Air Balloon Festival. The festival is free to attend, and will feature balloon demonstrations, local food trucks, live music, chainsaw carving, tethered balloon rides and a special (but limited) number of balloon trips.

Festival founder and Sweetly Kismet Candy Store owner Jon Parrot...