The 18th Annual Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival will be Friday, August 16th and Saturday, August 17th, at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park, North of 204^th & Dodge with FREE parking at Elkhorn High School and shuttle to the festival entrance.  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 the Festival will add more delicious foods from Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls and Pita Gyros to Bang Bang Shrimp and BBQ Wings. Returning this year, you will not want to miss the RE/MAX Skydiving Team jumping thousands of feet above, flying through the skies and landing in front of the crowds at the festival each evening.  The Festival is your chance to enjoy live entertainment, a skydiving exhibition each evening, as well as paragliders flying around the Festival, 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 KidZone Area with face painting, bungee jumping, 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, enjoy the Omaha-metro’s favorite cover band, The Personics are, playing all your favorite hits and party tunes. From P!nk to Johnny Cash, Dexy’s Midnight Runners to Blondie, The Beatles to Elle King, Garth Brooks to Tom Petty, and just about everything in between. The Personics get people up to dance from the first tune, and keep them there ALL NIGHT LONG! Live music makes a party and The Personics make the party an event!

Come early on Saturday, gates open at 3:30PM with the special opening entertainment by The 7O’s Band .. a true 70’s experience!!!.. You will know the words to every hit song they play. They will be followed at 6:30PM by 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 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 pilots from the Nebraska Balloon Club hot air balloons will be joined by pilots from around the Midwest from Iowa to Missouri at this year’s festival.

The Festival features delicious foods from Omaha’s Greek and Mexican dishes to juicy barbecue ribs with some of the area’s best restaurants and caterers participating in the Food Pavilion including Kebobs, Gyros & Brats, Pim’s Thai, Prairie Fire Pizza, Haven Express, Smoking Jays BBQ, Red Barn, Greek To Me!, Uncle Earnie’s BBQ, Lindsey Enterprises, Heavenly Body Catering, Chef Amore Italian, Javi’s Tacos.  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 offered from Strawberry Funnel Cake to Kona Ice with your favorite flavors that is sure to make your evening complete.

The Festival is a showcase of award winning wines that beginners and wine lovers can enjoy. The United States is the largest consuming nation in the world! Americans are drinking more wine than ever before due to wine’s health benefits and the growing number of varieties to explore. Wine tasting has never been so popular. Nebraska Wineries continue to gain awards and grow with almost 25 Wineries from just 7 Wineries over the last few years. The Local Wine Showcase will include experts and over 60 wines to taste from James Arthur Vineyards, Glacial Till Winery, Nissen Winery, Native 32 Winery, Little Swan Lake Winery, Locations Winery, as well as this year’s sponsoring winery Clos Du Bois Vineyard Winery. The Beer industry has also exploded with many new tastes and craft beers. The Festival will be your opportunity to taste the new craft beers in the comforts of the Beer Garden beautiful setting.

The Festival Tickets offer (5) tastes of wines with a Souvenir Wine Glass (while supplies last) or Your Choice of Beers for just $17.00 per person – if tickets are purchased in advance. Tickets are also available day of the Festival for $21.00 at the Festival Entrance.

The Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival will be open 5 PM until 11 PM on Friday, August 16th and 3 PM until 11 PM on Saturday, August 17th at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park in Elkhorn, Nebraska. The Festival is sponsored in part by Community Partners including ONYX Automotive, Pinnacle Bank, Family Fare, Today’s Dental, Pets Earth, RE/MAX, Rotella’s Bakery, Nebraska Lottery. Abe’s Trash Service, Coca-Cola, Clos Du Bois, High Noon, and Media Partners, Omaha Magazine, WOWT6, KGOR 99.9 FM, and KFAB 1110 AM. Other participating sponsors include:  Renewal By Andersen,  LeafFilter, LeafGuard, and Host Hotel, Aloft Hotel & Suites on 67th & Center.  Contributing sponsors include: Host Coffee, NMC Power, Muzzy Ice as well as many other companies have stepped up to help make this a Great Event!