Highland Village holding 22nd annual Lions Club Balloon Festival

by Brett Peviteaux of Lantana Links

Getting up at the crack of dawn has never held such intrigue for me as it does this year, with the prospect of the 22nd annual Lions Club Balloon Festival and Fair on Aug. 14-16.

Who could resist the lure of eating pancakes while watching an armada of hot air balloons cross Lake Lewisville and land at Copperas Branch Park? That’s right, an early Texas morning and 15 to 20 of the most primitive flying machines still in regular use -- that, my friends, is what was once known as a spectacle.

But the spectacle is not limited to balloons, nor to the morning. The Lions Club will be kicking things off Friday, August 14 at 5 p.m. with an opening ceremony fly over of Air Force F-16s from the 301st Fighter Wing Honor Guard. Thus begins a three day event offering a plethora of fun for the entire family.

There will be music, with a number of local acts playing including the Kat Moore Band, Cross Timbers Bluegrass, and The Fog among others. There will be games galore, with everything from bounce houses, to laser tag, to a car bash. What’s a car bash you ask? Well, it involves a vehicle of indeterminate vintage and a sledgehammer ... let’s just say that for a small fee you can take out all your commuter frustrations on a permanently stalled car. There will be raffle prizes. There will be an auto display put on by the Model T club of America. There will be arts and crafts, with over 50 vendors scheduled to be on hand. There will also be food, glorious food, with vendors offering up all kinds of dishes over the entire weekend.

All proceeds from the event benefit the Lions Club charitable endeavors. The Lions Club will be taking donations of cell phones for the troops. You can also donate old eyeglasses, sunglasses, frames or lenses and receive a free raffle ticket.

But let’s not overlook the big stuff, the balloons. The balloons are what started it all 22 years ago. Balloon events are scheduled each day with a balloon glow on Friday evening, the aforementioned pancake breakfast and balloon races both Saturday and Sunday mornings, and a possible second balloon glow on Saturday evening. Balloon events are hosted by noted "Balloon Meister" Glen Moyer. For all the details, check out the event website at www.hvballoonfest.com.

This will be my first Highland Village Balloon Festival. But I have it all planned out ... I will sit in the relative comfort of a Texas summer morning, dining on sweet breakfast delights, and as I watch giant balloons over the water I will realize that basket weaving is a serious matter after all.