U.S. Bank Balloons, Tunes, & BBQ

United Way of Southern Kentucky is pleased to announce the 2011 U.S. Bank Balloons, Tunes and BBQ festival will take place September 1-3, 2011, at the Bowling Green / Warren County Regional Airport. The festival is a FREE entertainment event. Gates open at 5 p.m. on Thursday in recognition of ?Kid-s Night?. Attractions will include a full blown carnival, several children-s activities including an inflatable fair friendly for different ages, BBQ to tempt the taste buds with seating available for patrons, and several displays. Gates open at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon and noon on Saturday. On Friday night, Sam 100.7 will present Bowling Green Idol, a 7th year event which continues to grow in popularity. WGGC FM presents the stage entertainment Saturday evening featuring a grand lineup for country music fans. The concerts kick off center stage at 5:30 p.m. Finally, the staple of the event since its inception in 1990 ? Hot Air Balloons ? will return once again. Hot air balloonists from all over the country will converge on Bowling Green to compete for more than $10,000 in prize money. Hot air balloon competitive events will be held throughout the weekend, testing the skill set of some of the sport-s best pilots. Hot air balloons will be on display Friday evening at dusk for the ever popular Balloon Glow ? and tether rides, weather and wind permitting ? with competitive events kicking off Saturday morning, including crowd favorite Hare and Hound Race lift off Saturday afternoon, and the final fly-in event on Sunday morning. Fees will only apply for carnival rides, the inflatable fair, food, souvenirs, and - weather and wind conditions permitting - tethered balloon rides on Friday night. All net proceeds of this festival will benefit the United Way of Southern Kentucky and the worthwhile agencies it supports. U.S. Bank has teamed up once again with Presenting Sponsor Houchens Industries, and Supporting Sponsors, Fruit of the Loom, Miller-s Bottled Gas, JB Distributors, Hampton Inn, RC Cola, WBKO, 100.7 SAM FM, and WGGC 95, to make this event possible. Anyone interested in volunteering or simply wishing for information on the event may call the U.S. Bank Balloons, Tunes and BBQ Hotline at 270.745.7532. Volunteers may leave a message and expect a return call from one of the event coordinators. For additional information you may visit online at www.balloonstunesbbq.com or contact the United Way office at 270.843.3205.