The Optimist Club Unlimited of Abilene will host the 25th Annual Big Country Balloon Fest beginning on Friday at Red Bud Park in Abilene.

The Optimist Club Unlimited is based in Abilene and its mission is to bring joy and serve the city. Robin Hicks, who is in charge of volunteers and directing the festival for The Optimist Club Unlimited said that they want to create hope and positive vision for kids that grow up in Abilene.

“We are a community organization dedicated to service and bringing out the best in everyone we meet, Optimist Club is proud to serve Abilene and the surrounding areas,” Hicks said. 

The Big Country Balloon Festival has been an event since 1994, and this year they are having not only balloon flights. There will also be nightly glows, light synchronized kites, inflatables for children, and pony and train rides.

The event begins on Sept. 27 and will end with sunrise balloon rides at 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning. The Optimist Club Unlimited are striving for local organizations and people to sponsor this event. This event will also be hosting live music and food vendors for the whole Abilene community. Live music will be provided from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The Balloon Fest will be going on from 7:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The Optimist Club has a set of pilots and what balloon they will be flying. The Balloon Fest is free, but the rides are not. The Optimist Club is having a sale for thirty tickets for twenty dollars that is strictly for inflatables and pony rides. The tethered balloon rides are twenty dollars a person.

There will also be a car show, with the top twenty cars winning an award. There will also be an ugly car contest and car audio contest.

The Balloon Festival’s benefits will be going to the Optimist Club Unlimited and their children charities that they sponsor.