Join Us for an Evening Featuring Unique Entertainment, Hot Air Balloons & Showcase of Some of the Best Wines At Our Beautiful Location Coventry Campus ( just south of 204th & Q Street ) Friday, August 11th - 5 PM – 11 PM & Saturday, August 12th - 3 PM – 11 PM

BALLOON AND WINE FESTIVAL LIFTS MORE THAN SPIRITS

The 11th Annual Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival expands again Friday, August 11th and Saturday, August 12th, back at beautiful Coventry, just South of 204th & Q streets. The Festival is a Local Wine Showcase featuring some of the best award winning wines available to taste. In addition to the wine tasting and hot air balloons lifting everyone's spirits, the Festival is your chance to enjoy delicious foods, live entertainment, a shopping experience of one-of-a-kind Arts & Crafts and unique items in the Marketplace Village, as well as Fun for the Kids in the Family Fare KidZone Area with Pony Rides, face painting, inflatable bounce and obstacle courses.

The Festival will be your chance to enjoy some of the Areas best bands performing throughout the Festival. On Friday, the Festival will feature The Fishheads "Official Band of Summer" who love to have fun and it shows! With a mix of Island, Rock, Funk & Reggae all wrapped up in a crazy spontaneous atmosphere (You never know what's going to happen next!) With 22 years of experience, The Fishheads are the Ultimate Party Band!!! Come early on Saturday, gates open at 3:30PM with the special opening entertainment by Front Ro -a high powered energy band with a funky mix of old school covers from R&B, Soul, Classic Rock and Top 40. They will be followed at 6:30PM by Omaha's own,High Heel - High Energy Classic Rock Band formed with the sole purpose of having fun with the audience, this band covers a wide variety of your favorite songs including classic rock, country, and pop. Featuring lead vocalist Lisa Larsen, most recognized by her amazing vocals and of course… high heels! She is all over the stage and in the audience, creating an interactive show that’s charming to watch as well as listen to. Guaranteed Good Time!!!

The festival will also offer a chance to taste fresh locally grown foods paired with local Wines on Saturday, August 12th at 12 Noon, Comfort Inn & Suites – 72^nd & I-80. This Nebraska Vintners' Lunch is a fantastic occasion to feature local farmers and producers center stage prepared by Executive Chef Thomas Brammer of Comfort Inn & Suites.

A quick look at the Lunch Menu:

Plate 1

Broccoli sprout from Liberty Acres, mixed greens salad with carrots, topped with a vinaigrette dressing,

as well as a warm Rotella’s bread served with apple butter from Liberty Acres, of Norfolk, Ne

-Paired with Edelweiss 2016 from James Arthur Vineyards, Raymond, NE a semi-sweet white wine

Plate 2

Cooked egg rolls and a spicy sweet dipping sauce from Awesome Egg Rolls, Omaha, NE

Served with pad thai chicken from Thai Esarn Cuisine, Omaha, NE

-Paired with Jesse James from Nissen Wine, Hartington, Ne- a semi sweet red wine

Plate 3

Pork loin from Clear Creek Organic Farms, Spalding, NE smoked by Boyd & Charlie’s BBQ, Elkhorn, NE, served with baby red baked potatoes, smothered in butter and topped with an herb cheesespread by Fuehrer Cheese Spread, Sutton, NE

-Paired with Workhorse Wine from Milleta Vista Winery, St. Paul, NE- a red wine

Plate 4

Chocolate covered Strawberries Dessert and Dark Chocolate Cup by Serendipity Chocolates and Bakery, Tekamah, NE

“The Hot Air Balloons attract a lot of attention and is unique to this celebration! An estimated six million national spectators attend hundreds of Balloon events across the country.” The Festival will be your chance to see first-hand the exciting Hot Air Balloons Launch at 7 PM and the colorful Hot Air Balloons Glow when the balloons will be illuminated at 9 PM (weather permitting) each evening. The Festival hot air balloon organizer, Mark Enholm, Festival Balloon Meister, is excited to announce the largest number of hot air balloons participating in the festival. Nebraska Balloon Club member hot air balloons that will be participating all from Omaha, NE include Celebration II- Steve LaCroix, and RE/MAX - Matt Fenster of Bellevue, NE will be joined by the Iowa RE/MAX Balloon - Denny Anderson. Regional balloon pilots returning will be Kaleidoscope - Janice Sines of Ashland, MO, Patches – Terry Montague, Centralia, MO, Glorious Drifter -Tim Cloyd of Runnells, IA, Libertas - Tony Goodnow and Breaking Dawn - Lori Hutchinson. Others added to the event include HeatSeeker - Bill & Suzan Smiley, Olathe, KS, Pilot: Brian Carlson - Topeka, KS, Got the Hotz – Steve Derebey, Roscoe, IL, and Tequila Sunrise - Pilot: Bret Christensen - Indianola, IA will also be participating in this year’s festival. Mark is also excited to announce a special shape balloon is joining the Festival that can be enjoyed by young and old alike! Pilot Frank Urbanski of Dakota Dunes, SD, will be bringing the Uncle Sam Balloon to this year's event. This will also be your opportunity to enjoy Helicopter Rides - Call 402-346-8003 about reservations for availability of Hot Air Balloon Rides & Husker Helicopter Excursions.

The Festival features delicious foods from Omaha’s Greek and Italian dishes to juicy barbecued ribs with some of the area's best restaurants and caterers participating in the REBATH Pavilion including Okinawa Sushi, Kebobs, Gyros & Brats, LaCasa Pizza, Guaca Maya Mexican, Piccolo's Italian, Thai Esarn, Big Red Food Truck, Boyd & Charlie's BBQ, Bella Vita Italian, Prairie Fire Pizza, Chicago Dawg House, Uncle Ernie's Barbecue and JoJo Gelatos. There will be Rotella’s Italian bread to enjoy while wine tasting. You’ll probably want to top off your evening with one of the fabulous desserts from Lithuanian Bakery tortes, to Kona Ice and Lauren Beth's Popcorn offered that is sure to make your evening complete.

Back Again, this Year Take off from the Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival Balloon Field in the Husker Helicopter. Fly around the Scenic Area for approximately 15 minutes for a Once in a Lifetime Experience and Check it off your Bucket List!

Seats are limited and I am sure they will fill up fast, so if you pass the below requirements purchase your tickets Today!

____ You can be at the Balloon Field Saturday from 3:00PM - 6:00PM.

____ You are willing to sign a release form before you can fly.

____ The Helicopter can fly up to four and your weights will be assessed so if you are interested in flying solo or in a group we can make it happen, it will still be Only $75 per person.

If you qualify than you are ready to order

Have questions about Nebraska Balloon and Wine Festival? Contact Mid-America Expositions, Inc.