Balloon Festival

Lincoln bold and beautiful in sites and sounds this weekend

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[August 28, 2015]  LINCOLN - Skies over Lincoln and the surrounding country-side will once again blaze with color with the 26th Annual Balloon Festival.

This year's festival previewed on Thursday evening with a ribbon cut, the celebration of the city of Lincoln's 162nd Birthday and a few balloons doing a low altitude launch at the Logan County Airport.

Meanwhile downtown, artists were finishing marvels of chalk art on walkways around the square - you know you want to get dressed up a bit if you are celebrating and if you have a few guests coming in to visit.

Not only will there be plenty of color in the air this weekend, but also under foot in the downtown area of Lincoln. On Thursday school children and artists were busy adding one more layer of color and festivity adorning Lincoln's Historic Courthouse Square walkways. This year's temporary chalk-based designs range whimsical to dramatic to pop-culture.

If you have the time, be sure to go downtown on Friday and Saturday, take a stroll to see these temporary works.
 


Of course the big attraction this weekend will be the 31 beautiful hot air balloons that are scheduled to take to the skies over Logan County Friday evening, Saturday morning and Saturday night. As usual the balloonists are set to launch from the airport on Friday and Saturday evenings, with a number of balloonist returning for crowd jazzing dusk-time glows. For early birds, balloons are set to launch at 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Times may vary with winds and visibility.

Entry to the airport is only $5 per person ($1 under 10 years of age), $1 parking.

Once inside the gates this year has more entertainment than ever before and with all the great food options.

New this year is the Celebrity Dunk Tank. The lineup of guest “dunkies” includes State Representative Tim Butler, Aldermen Todd Mourning and Michelle Bauer, LCHS Baseball coaches Pat Hake and Chris Phillips and all the Alliance staff.

Also new will be inflatable watersides. And on Friday, Wild Exotics Petting Zoo.

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Gates open at 11 a.m. on Saturday and activities both Friday and Saturday include bungee jump, rock wall climbing, Carnival, Bags Tournament, and tether balloon rides from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at $15 per adult and $10 per child.

A new company, Chicago Kite will fly 30 foot kites, host kite making and demonstrations for families on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. lasting to dusk.

Great bands will once again be taking the stage both Friday (8:30 p.m.) and Saturday (8 p.m.) evenings. Back by popular demand on Friday night is Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters. On Saturday Hat Trick plays at 4 p.m. and following the balloon glow on Saturday night, Borderline out of St. Louis will conclude the weekend festivities.

The beer tent will be open across from the entertainment stage on Friday evening 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

There aren't many opportunities to enjoy a festival of this caliber right outside your back door like this one. You're sure to have a great time and see all your favorite friends when you come out to enjoy this great end of season festival.

[Jan Youngquist]

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