A blue U.S. Bank hot air balloon sits outside Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport, signaling the kickoff of the 2007 U.S. Bank Balloons, Tunes & BBQ Event.

Representatives and business people gathered at the airport this morning for a press conference announcing the annual event. By the second weekend in September, the airport will be buzzing with Bowling Green’s premier festival.

Beyond the attractions, this year presents a new face to the event. United Way of Southern Kentucky has become a partner with U.S. Bank.

&#8220This is our first year sponsoring this event,” said Doug Eberhart, president of the United Way of Southern Kentucky. &#8220This is such a huge event in town. It’s a community-wide event and a way to bring about awareness of the United Way and what we do and how we help in the community.”

The proceeds from the festival will go to the United Way and the agencies it supports.

The festival is packed with fun activities, concerts and of course hot air balloons. The event will start with a carnival, featuring inflatable activities for children, barbecue vendors, tethered balloon rides – weather permitting – and the balloon glow, and ends with a pilots awards ceremony. In between, there will be concerts with local band Exit 4 and country music singers Eric Church and Danielle Peck, a Bowling Green Idol contest and the staple hot air balloon races.

Craig Browning, regional president of U.S. Bank, the title sponsor of the event, said the entertainment for this year is the best they’ve ever had. He said there were &#8220folks who stepped up” like Malchow and Lawless Orthodontics to provide the children’s activities.

This year, there will also be seating for food patrons, he said.

&#8220This is huge,” Browning said. &#8220And it’s a great opportunity for people to bring their families and just have a great time. We are extremely proud and pleased to be the title sponsor again for this. There are a lot of things going on. We’re taking this family event to the next level.”

Browning said the next step in making sure this event goes off without a hitch is planning who is working where and when. With the United Way’s involvement, both the number of business and volunteers willing to participate has increased.

&#8220This event has really blossomed and grown, and we are proud to be a part of this,” said Tony Blest of Fruit of the Loom, who’s been a co-sponsor for six years. &#8220Without volunteers, this event would not be as successful.”

Eberhart said 250 volunteers are being recruited.

The annual event is free, except parking, carnival rides and the balloon rides. But the amount charged for parking will allow spectators access to all entertainment stages, vendor displays and the children’s activities, which include a petting zoo and bungee jumping.

&#8220This is not a United Way event or an event for the sponsors, but a community event,” Eberhart said. &#8220We’re excited to be a part of this event and we’re looking forward to a great event in September.”

2007 U.S. Bank Balloons, Tunes and BBQ

Sept. 7-9; gates open at 3 p.m. Friday and close at 11 a.m. Sunday.

$15 per car load Friday, $5 per car load between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and $20 per car load from 3 p.m. until close Saturday.

$15 all-day pass for carnival rides.

$5 tethered balloon rides.

– For more information and updates, visit http://www.balloonstunesbbq.com