I can't tell you how perplexed I am about the new slogan to promote Utah: Life Elevated. No matter how I look at it, it's not something that seems capable of firing anyone's imagination. It simply has no allure, and it certainly seems to have zero chance of working its way into the national vocabulary. That's why I'm happy about a new Davis County event coming our way next week. We've already done several stories about it, of course, but we suspect many people will have forgotten about it by now unless we remind them. It even has a catchy name: The Antelope Island Balloon Stampede. That title is reminiscent of the famed Calgary Stampede, and that's a good thing. It also sounds rustic and western, and that adds a little magic, as well. What it's all about is the launching of more than two dozen colorful balloons over the island, which is a master stroke in further building up the Antelope Island mystique.

The festival not only gives another reason to visit the island, it also will offer stunning views to high-flying participants and those on the ground as well.

But just to clarify my biggest concern when I heard about the event earlier this year: The plan calls for the balloons to both take off and return to earth on Antelope Island, not travel across the Great Salt Lake.

Until I understood that, I had visions of balloons being caught by surprise gusts or other calamities and ending up in the salty drink.

As far as we've been told, the balloons will all safely remain over the island. Yet organizers deserve a few more kudos for their efforts.

We're not only going to be treated to a sky filled with balloons, but organizers are making sure there's lots of fun for visitors on the ground.

Plans call for such things as sea kayaking, a wildlife safari, horseback riding, live bands, vendors and more. So it will turn out to be a big fiesta in connection with the annual Buffalo Days.

If you're from South Davis, you might even be wondering what I'm talking about when Buffalo Days get mentioned.

It's actually been a festival that's been rolling for several years now. Folks in Syracuse, Clinton, Layton and other North Davis towns have been making a big deal of this for quite some time. It's actually supposed to be a county-wide event, but people from Farmington on south haven't really gotten into the spirit of it yet.

I suspect that's going to change a bit once the Balloon Stampede hits the air. It's finally something big enough to make all of us in the county stand up and take notice. It is likely to attract a growing number of tourists as well.

In fact, considering how fast the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival has grown in the national consciousness, the Balloon Stampede might be able to do the same thing for Buffalo Days.

We encourage the cities of South Davis to get involved and sponsor more events connected with Buffalo Days than they have in the past. The Balloon Stampede is just the ticket to fire everyone's imagination about what this area can become.

For nearly two decades, we lived a few hours from the Albuquerque balloon festival, considered the premiere event of its kind since its founding 35 years ago.

One year, we even served on a ground crew for one hot air balloon and experienced the excitement first hand. It's also a day our kids will always remember. The difference is that Albuquerque's festival took place on a barren field north of town. Some balloons even got stuck in some nearby power lines.

Antelope Island, on the other hand, will offer a far more interesting natural setting and promises the potential of becoming something truly memorable.

The organizers of Davis County's event deserve our congratulations for their vision, imagination and hard work. And the residents of Davis County would do well to support it.

Our kids considered it a privilege to take part in Albuquerque's event not long after it had completed its first decade. How much more fun it will be for Davis kids to look back at the Balloon Stampede and, years from now, recall being a witness to the very first one.