The popular Lincoln Art and Balloon Festival will see some exciting changes in 2015.

The Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce announced in July an expansion for next year's Balloon Fest. Andi Hake, Executive Director of the Chamber, says the festival has grown in recent years and needs to expand to multiple weekends. The Chamber, along with the Lincoln Tourism Bureau, felt the change could also have positive economic impact on the community.

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The balloon portion at the fairgrounds will remain the same for 2015. Downtown events such as the barbecue competition and flea markets will take place on another weekend. Hake notes the Art Fair will expand into a third weekend next year, and the Antique Craft Fair will join forces with the local Railsplitter Festival next fall.

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An estimated 20,000 or better attended the Balloon Fest overall in 2013. She explains several visitors have requested the split in order to fully experience all events. The Chamber and Tourism Bureau have committed to market the new events in order to raise public awareness of the changes.

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Hake says another positive aspect of the changes in 2015 will be the utilization of volunteers. She feels the volunteers are spread very thin over Balloon fest weekend and now can commit to more than one event.

For more information on this year's Balloon Fest, you can go to lincolnillinois.com. This year's Art and Balloon Fest is August 22-24.