Activities begin today at the Tilltoson Field in Menlo for the first ever Northwest Georgia Hot Air Balloon Festival.  Carnival rides are in place and event organizers are expecting visitors from all over Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee and beyond.  According to John Cavin of Menlo, one of the primary event organizers, at least 11 Hot Air balloons are expected to be at the event with balloon pilots from Georgia and South Carolina participating in the event.  The festival will run through Sunday and gets underway at 9 A.M. each day.  Cost for admission is only $5 per car. Buck and Duke are scheduled to perform on Saturday afternoon; cost for the concert is only $2.  Proceeds from the festival will benefit the Menlo Recreation Department and Chattooga County Tourism.