Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival kicks off on Friday         

[AUG. 24, 2006]  Come on out to the Logan County Airport and to downtown Lincoln to enjoy the fun of the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival. The festivities kick off on Friday with arts and crafts, carnival rides and games, inflatable rides, an interactive NASCAR track, the Blue Skies Beer Garden, and the Heritage In Flight Museum, all at the airport. At 6 p.m. the hot-air balloons will take off from the airport, followed by a balloon glow on the runway at dusk. Downtown Lincoln will host a flea market where you can find almost anything.

The fun continues on Saturday with another balloon launch at 6:30 a.m. The 33rd annual Lincoln Art Fair will be open in Latham Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring the Children's Art Tent, Adventure Zone and the Kickapoo Kingdom. Main Street Lincoln will host the Art of Wine from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the courthouse square. There will also be a bocce ball tournament at noon back at the airport. Don't miss the Lincoln Historic Homes Tour, which is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. Pick up your brochure and guide at the Lincoln Art Fair. The balloons will launch again from the airport at 6 p.m., and the final balloon glow will be on the runway at dusk.

Finally, watch the hot-air balloons fly over the airport, competing for prizes as they aim for targets all over the airport. This event will be at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday. The Lincoln Art Fair will continue on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Art of Wine also continues on the courthouse square from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. In addition, the annual 1800s Craft Fair at Postville Courthouse State Historic Site will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 914 Fifth St.

The Information Station, home to the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce, the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County, and the Lincoln & Logan County Development Partnership, will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday to answer all of your questions!

There's all this and much more at this year's Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival. Stop by the Information Station at 1555 Fifth St., call 217-735-2385 for more information or find details at http://www.lincolnillinois.com/balloonfest/.

[News release]