LINCOLN, Ill. — Balloons Over 66 is underway in Lincoln and continues through the weekend. More than a dozen hot air balloons are set to fill the skies near Lincoln.
Ballooning in Lincoln has drawn a following for decades.
"When you think of Lincoln, you think of balloons and balloons have been in this area or this county for almost 50 years," said Krissy Conklen, board member. "I didn't grow up here, but it's something that I learned about really quickly."Â
Jim Phelan, a pilot, was part of the team in 1988, the first year balloons flew over Lincoln. Phelan said he now sees new generations getting involved.
"We see it in the older people that you get to my age, and we start to phase out the ballooning, and we have another younger group, this coming in just 25 to 30 years of age, and they want to take the time for this weekend to make this be Lincoln Balloon Fest," Phelan said.
Each hot air balloon is over 60 feet tall. While looking at one is inspiring, more than a dozen at once leads to a lot of joy.Â
"You see that excitement in children's faces or even adults, too, you know, and you turn the burner on, and they see the fire," Conklen said. "They see the glow, at night, that face, that expression, that excitement really makes it worthwhile."Â
For Lincoln natives like Reid Conklen, the event is part of a greater Lincoln identity. As a pilot, he enjoys sharing his knowledge of the area with pilots who travel to the area for the event.Â
"There's a sense of pride, there's a sense of enjoyment," Conklen said. "I love this area, born and raised here. I came back here after moving away for a little bit, and I love that other people are enjoying it as much as I get to."Â
Launching the balloons depends on weather conditions. The team plans to get balloons up Friday night, Saturday morning and Saturday night. For the most up-to-date information, visit the Balloons over 66 Weekend Facebook page.Â
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