Local Balloon artist chosen for Christmas Parade Experience in California

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — What started as a grandmother’s attempt to bring a little joy to her granddaughter’s first birthday party has now become a thriving balloon business and a ticket to the national stage.

In August 2021, Debbie Haworth, founder of Big Fun Balloons, set her alarm early, pulled up a few YouTube tutorials, and tried her hand at building her first balloon arch. She had never worked with balloons before. By the end of the day, she had created a festive display that sparked both excitement at the party and a new passion.

“I had so much fun doing it,” Debbie said. “I retired from health care in 2018, so I had the time to practice. Balloons turned out to be a lot more fun than home health.”

After experimenting with family and friends’ events, Debbie was invited to design for the Jester Ball. The glowing feedback convinced her to turn her hobby into a business, and Big Fun Balloons was born. For the past three years, she has brought color and creativity to Vicksburg celebrations, from baby showers and birthdays to school events and anniversaries.

“Balloons add joy to any occasion,” Debbie said. “What I enjoy most is being a part of someone’s special day. Most of my clients trust me to use my imagination, and that makes every project exciting.”

One of her proudest creations so far was an 11-foot balloon birthday cake she built for Vicksburg’s Bicentennial. Originally designed for a parade float, weather forced the giant creation indoors at the convention center.

Now, Debbie is taking her talents beyond Mississippi. She has been selected as one of eight interns for the Christmas Parade Experience 2025 in Modesto, California. There, she will work alongside some of the nation’s most respected balloon designers, learning large-scale techniques and helping bring balloon characters to life for the city’s annual holiday parade.

“When I got the email saying I was chosen, I was shocked and then I screamed and did a happy dance,” she said with a laugh.

The three-day build, hosted by Denise Seymour of My Little Balloon Co., will require long hours and teamwork. Professional dancers will wear balloon characters designed by Debbie and her fellow interns during the parade. While the theme is still under wraps, Debbie is eager to take part.

“I’ve wanted to be part of a big build like this for a while,” she said. “I’m excited to learn not just the design side, but also the logistics that go into a project of this size.”

Debbie says the support of the Vicksburg community has been vital to her journey. When she first started, downtown merchants welcomed her displays in their businesses, helping her hone her craft and spread the word. Now, she hopes to bring back new techniques and inspiration from Modesto, like balloon characters that dance in parades, to enhance local celebrations, including Vicksburg’s Christmas and Mardi Gras parades.

“Anytime you can learn from professionals with decades of experience, you’re going to pick up fresh ideas,” she said. “I can’t wait to share what I learn with our community.”

For Debbie, balloons are about more than just business, they’re about connection. She encourages aspiring event decorators and entrepreneurs to seek out education, attend conventions, and build relationships in their industry.

“I’ve made friends through balloon conventions who I can call anytime to bounce ideas around,” she said. “That support is invaluable.”

As for her dream project? Debbie hopes to someday see Vicksburg host a large-scale balloon build of its own. “It would be amazing to bring something like that here,” she said.

“Because at the end of the day, balloons are all about creating joy, and you can never have too much of that.”