Various locations throughout Lincoln
Held the end of August
Lincoln has had a long history with Hot Air Ballooning beginning with the Art and Balloon Festival that began in 1988. Later the Balloon Festival was separated from the Art Festival and continued on until 2017. In 2019, Balloons Over 66 began. As with the Art and Balloon Festival, balloon pilots travel from around the country to participate in Balloons Over 66.
Hot air balloons are launched in various locations on Friday and Saturday throughout Lincoln. Residents and visitors come to watch the set up and launch. For some residents, the balloons are launched in their backyards! Saturday evening usually concludes with a Balloon Glow. This is where the pilots and crews set up the balloons, keep them tethered, and light them up in the night sky. All are welcome to watch the show.
All the events are free to the public.
For more information and links to the current event info SEE BELOW.
Balloons Over 66- August 27th-29th, 2021
Link to the OFFICIAL BALLOONS OVER 66 FACEBOOK EVENT
Link to the OFFICIAL BALLOONS OVER 66 EVENT GOOGLE MAP
*Hot Air Balloon Information*
There are over 30 Balloons this year. The pilots meet soon before the launches to determine whether they will set up and launch, set up and stay tethered to the ground, or not launch at all. Depending on weather conditions, the flights are slated for:
Friday evening (6/6:15 PM)
Saturday morning (6:15/6:30 AM)
Saturday evening (6/6:15 PM)
The glow is scheduled for Saturday evening at 8 PM at The Lincoln Park District (1400 Primm Road, Lincoln, IL)- The glow is where the pilots set up the balloons, stay tethered to the ground and glow at night.
The launch sites are listed below:
Mayfair Park (Mayfair subdivision is located off of N. Kickapoo St. across from Graue Chevrolet)
- 4 Pilots: Griest, Cloyd, House, Boylan
Dugan Center -- 1500 N. McLean St., Lincoln
- 8 Pilots: Acuff, Reusch (2), Klitz, Keefe, England, Sutter, Garcia
Immanuel Lutheran Church – 1409 Pulaski St., Lincoln
- 5 Pilots: Hopp, Robinson, Phelan, Mezey, Conklen
315 8th St., Lincoln--City owned lot
- 8 Pilots: Miller, Gebhart, Day, Jonard, Saul, Dorgan, Hoffman, Goodman
- 6 Pilots: Wooge, Boesdorfer, Reineke, Owen, Brouillet, Carlton
There will be no tethered balloon rides, however, rides can be purchased at $300.00/person. If interested, the following pilots will be offering said rides. Please contact them directly ASAP to book your flight! I can assure you -- this will be an experience that you will NOT soon forget!
*Happenings in Downtown Lincoln and Around Town*
Friday, August 27th
Art Fair at Lincoln Arts Institute - Downtown- 5:00-8:00 PM
Lincoln Public Library Book Sale - Downtown- Reserve Time Slots - (217) 732-8878
Up In Smoke - Backyard BBQ Competition - Downtown
Small Town Creations Sidewalk Sale
Dock Dogs - Downtown- on Mclean St. between Broadway St. and Pulaski St.
- Onsite Registration/ Practice – 12:00 pm
- Big Air WAVE # 1 – 1:00 pm
- Big Air WAVE # 2 – 3:00 pm
- Big Air WAVE # 3 – 5:00 pm
- Extreme Vertical – 7:00 pm
Event Format: Outdoor Big Air®, Extreme Vertical® & Speed RetrieveTM & Iron Dog Rankings
- LIVE MUSIC from BIG SUNS from 7-11 PM
**Alcohol vending will be done from Spirited Republic, Alley-Bi Saloon, The Rusty Rail Pub**
Saturday, August 28th
OASIS- 2180 Woodlawn Rd. - Craft & Vendor Fair - Saturday, August 28th, 10 AM - 4 PM
OASIS- 2180 Woodlawn Rd. - Corn & Chicken Feed - Saturday, August 28th, 11 AM - 3 PM
ALMH Farmers Market - Logan County Fairgrounds - Saturday from 8AM-12PM
Art Fair at Lincoln Art Institute - Downtown - 12:00-5:00 PM
Balloons Over 66 5K - 8 AM starting at Lincoln Park District
Up In Smoke - Backyard BBQ Competition- Downtown
Drive-Thru Biscuits and Gravy Breakfast at Lincoln Masonic Lodge - 7:00-10:00 AM
Lincoln Public Library Book Sale - Downtown- Reserve Time Slots- 217-732-8878
Balloons Over 66 Bag Tournament - Downtown - 4:00 PM
Classic Car Show - Downtown- 5 PM - 8 PM (50/50 Raffle, Door Prizes, $5 for car entries)
Small Town Creations Sidewalk Sale
DOCK DOGS COMPETITION - Downtown - on Mclean St. between Broadway St. and Pulaski St.
Event Format: Outdoor Big Air®, Extreme Vertical® & Speed RetrieveTM & Iron Dog Rankings
- Onsite Registration/ Practice – 10:00 am
- Big Air WAVE # 4 – 11:00 am
- Big Air WAVE # 5 – 1:00 pm
- Big Air WAVE # 6 – 3:00 pm
- Speed Retrieve (All in one Finals) – 5:00 pm
- Big Air Finals start at 7:00 pm (Pro, Semi-Pro, Contender & Amateur Finals)
- 12:00-3:00 PM- Thornhill Duo
- 4:00-5/5:30 PM- Backyard BBQ Awards
- 5:30-7:00 PM - Lincoln's Dead
- 7:00-11:00 PM- Jack Dupp
**Alcohol vending will be done from Spirited Republic, Alley-Bi Saloon, The Rusty Rail Pub**
Sunday, August 29th
Shady Car Show- Memorial Park at 11:00 AM
ALSO, check out these attractions that are open the same weekend.
Postville Courthouse Open Friday 12-4PM and Saturday from 10AM - 5PM
Mt.Pulaski Courthouse Open Friday and Saturday from 12-4 PM
Lincoln Heritage Museum Open from 9AM-4PM on Friday and 1-4 PM on Saturday
The Mill Museum on Route 66 Open from 12-4PM Friday and Saturday
The Following Places will be serving food in Downtown Lincoln
- Local Eateries
- Mama's Arcade - Friday 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
- Alley-Bi Saloon - Friday starting at 5:30 p.m.
- Guest House Coffee and Pastries - Friday 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 - 7:30 p.m.
- Guzzardo's - Friday 4:30 - 9:00 p.m. Saturday 4:30 - 10:00 p.m.
- Sorrento's - Open 4:00 - 10:00 p.m.
- Rio Grande - Open 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Joe's Pizzeria - Open 4:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
- Blue Dog Inn - Friday 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Saturday 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Idle Hour - Open 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
- Flossie's - Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
- Deep Roots - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
- Sir Renna Tea(Bubble tea, smoothies, tea) - Friday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
- Food Trucks
- Cheesed Out
- Pat's Famous Walleye
- Nuthatch Hill BBQ Company
- Cullers' Fries
- The Traveling Top Hat & Treats
- The Tony Cannoli
- Shaved Ice Shack
