Thursday's Best Bet: Pirates of the Canyon

The 2009 edition of the Pirates of the Canyon hot air balloon event will run three days this year beginning Friday night.

And the good news is this year, the event will be held both at Palo Duro Canyon and at John Stiff Park in Amarillo. If you haven't been able to make it to the canyon the last three years of the event, you won't have an excuse this year.

According to the event's web site, more than 30 ballons will be participating and include the regular shaped balloons, but also ones shaped like a Pepsi can and another like the space shuttle.

There are events all three mornings, including a balloon "chase" at John Stiff Park on Saturday morning and a festival on Saturday afternoon.

It's a spectacular event and it's closer than ever this year.