 With each new year,
coordinators of the festival bring surprising new additions for
everyone to enjoy. In 2009 crowds were entertained by PWE
professional wrestling out at the Logan County Airport."This was
an attempt to broaden our appeal to a larger crowd and engage the
crowd during non-balloon activity times," says Heidi Browne, event
coordinator for the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce.
This weekend, in addition to live professional wrestling, the
crowd will be entertained by belly dancers, stilt walkers and glow
poi dancers during non-balloon activity times. There will be a
section set up for children to take free lessons for stilt walking.
"It is our desire to continue to bring additional new activities
each year so festival goers see the value of their time and money
spent at our event," says Andi Hake, executive director of the
chamber of commerce.
"It has been important for us to bring a balloon presence back
downtown, and last year we found a safe way to accomplish this task.
We coordinated with our local pilots to have a cold air inflation of
a brightly colored balloon downtown, so festival patrons could walk
through. This was a huge hit and we plan to bring this downtown
balloon activity back this weekend along with many other
entertainment options," Hake said.
A parade to kick off the festival weekend is another new
addition, and the chamber hopes this will be a repeat success in
years to come. The parade will be comprised of balloon pilots, local
businesses, police cars and fire trucks along with entries from many
clubs and organizations. The American Legion will lead off the
parade, carrying the American flag.
Parade lineup will take place down Wyatt Avenue and start at 3:30
p.m. on Kickapoo Street, traveling north to Pulaski Street, taking a
right and traveling to McLean Street, taking a left and continuing
toward Latham Street, taking a left around the park to Kickapoo
Street, taking a right onto Kickapoo Street, traveling north to
Airport Road, turning onto Airport Road and entering the main gates
of the festival just in time for the start of the weekend's
activities.
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On Thursday at 5:30 p.m., the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of
Commerce is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the main festival
gate off Airport Road, at the Logan County Airport, to honor the
22nd anniversary of the balloon portion of the festival. In addition
to the ribbon-cut, local pilots will fly to give a preview of what
to expect Friday through Sunday.
Immediately following the ribbon-cut, the community is invited to
Maple Ridge Care Centre for their 12th annual party to kick off the
festival. The event will include a dinner and a live band for
entertainment until 8:30 p.m.
The weekend of exciting, fun-filled activities at the Logan
County Airport will include 36 beautiful hot air balloons launching
several times throughout the weekend and glowing both Friday and
Saturday evening. The festival will feature new live entertainment
including Rock of Ages on Friday night and The Brat Pack on Saturday
night, professional wrestling provided by PWE, tethered balloon
rides, and family games and activities.
On Saturday at 9:30 a.m., the chamber of commerce will host
another ribbon-cut to celebrate the 37th annual Art Fair portion of
the festival and all the other downtown festival activities. This
event will take place on the corner of Pekin and Kickapoo Street.
The fine art fair has grown into an entire downtown festival
including The Art of Wine, an Illinois wine-tasting event, along
with a craft fair, flea market and downtown shopping at Lincoln's
unique shops. The downtown portion of the festival will also feature
games and activities for families.
Sunday there will be an antique car show around the square and an
1800s craft fair at Postville Courthouse.
Check out all the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival activities and a
complete, detailed schedule at
www.lincolnillinois.com.
[Text from file received from the
Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of
Commerce] |
