The Highland Village Balloon Festival is introducing some changes in honor of its 26th annual event—a new location, a scavenger hunt and a 5K Hot Air Run and 1K fun run on Saturday morning.
This year’s three-day event, August 16 to 18, has re-located to Unity Park just north of Briarhill Middle School at 2200 Briarhill Blvd. The new location provides ability to walk, bike, or drive and park from surrounding residential areas, which wasn’t possible at the previous Copperas Branch Park location.
In addition, off-site parking will be available at Marcus High School with shuttle service and DCTA will be providing complimentary shuttle service from the Highland Village/Lewisville Lake train station to and from the Balloon Festival.
The new scavenger hunt runs from July 27 to August 16 and involves participants using an entry form—available on the Balloon Festival website—to gather signatures from the 100 participating local businesses.
This year’s Balloon Master is Pat Cannon with his distinctive balloon, Taiho Niji-Go.
The Balloon Festival kicks-off on Fri., August 16, from 5 to 10 p.m. and continues on Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Weekend event highlights include: a pancake breakfast from 6 to 9 a.m. while enjoying a balloon fly-in/take-off; the kids’ arts and crafts and games zones; tethered balloon rides from 6:30 to 8 p.m.; and Balloon Glow from 8:30 to 9 p.m.
Saturday only highlights feature: The Hot Air 5K and 1K races from 8 to 10 a.m.; a car/truck/motorcycle show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and, live music from 3 to 8:15 p.m.
The annual event is sponsored by the Highland Village Lions Foundation and 100-percent of the profits benefit such charities as: Lions “Sight First” Blindness Prevention Program; Texas Lions Camp for Children; Lions Eyeglass Program; Leader Dog Program for the Blind; Lions Drug Awareness Program; Lions Eye and Organ Bank; Highland Village Police Youth Programs; Diabetes Awareness Program; assistance to Sight and Hearing Impaired Children and Adults; local Boy Scout and Cub Scout Organizations; and Cub Scout Pack 298.
The scavenger hunt form and clues to locations, featured musicians and a list of the hot air balloon participants, as well as all other event information are available at www.lionsballoonfest.com.