Gaines Penn clearly remembers lying peacefully in his new Bowling Green home on a Saturday morning and hearing a sound like no other – it was a hot air balloon floating 50 feet above his home.

That was Penn’s introduction to the Balloon Classic, which has come to be known as Balloons, Tunes and BBQ, set for Sept. 9-12 at the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport. And as the event sets to celebrate 20 years, organizers again are offering free parking and admission thanks to its sponsorships.

“This is a triple win,” said Penn, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce board vice chairman, speaking of event’s benefit to the community, area businesses and sponsors.

Craig Browning, U.S. Bank regional president, said people don’t realize how much it takes to put on this magnitude of an event, and that it wouldn’t be possible without community and sponsor support. The event carries a budget of $130,000.

“Last year went over so great that there was an overwhelming request to provide the event free again, and thanks to our sponsors, we’re able to do that,” he said.

U.S. Bank takes the lead and for the past three years, Houchens Industries has been another top sponsor. Other sponsors include Fruit of the Loom, Miller’s Bottled Gas, JB Distributors, Hampton Inn, RC Cola, WBKO, 100.7 SAM FM and WGGC 95.

“This is an opportunity to put back in the community and … we jumped at it,” said Jim Bohannon of JB Distributors, which has been a sponsor for the past four years. “We always look forward to it, and like Craig said, ‘Everyone loves balloons.’ ”

All proceeds will benefit United Way of Southern Kentucky, which works to support health and human services in Allen, Barren, Logan, Simpson and Warren counties. Last year, the event netted $25,000.

While parking and admission are free this year, organizers said there will still be a fee for the inflatable fair, tethered rides – which will be offered weather permitting – food vendors and carnival rides. Also, United Way volunteers will again line the airport runway, seeking donations during the three-day event, Browning said.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. Sept. 9 for Kids Night with a carnival midway and inflatable fair as the main attractions.

New this year is WBVR 96.7 picking up sponsorship of Kids Night, Browning said, and part of Kids Night will be a talent contest. Details can be found at www.beaverfm.com.

Stage entertainment will again include Bowling Green Idol, sponsored by 100.7 SAM FM. Auditions for the event will begin Aug. 16 at the United Way office. There also will be live music before and after the competition.

The evening of Sept. 11, four live bands are set to perform, including country music artists Rhett Akins and Nick Hoffman, who, as fiddle player for Kenny Chesney’s band, is striking out on a solo career.

Hot air balloon competitive events, with $10,000 in prize money, will occur throughout the weekend and conclude Sunday morning. Hot air balloons will be on display at dusk Sept. 10 for the balloon glow. Competitive events kick off Sept. 11, and the final fly-in event will be just after daylight Sept. 12.

“We just got a lot of good things going on,” Browning said.

— To volunteer, call the U.S. Bank Balloons, Tunes and BBQ Hotline at 745-7532. For more information, visit www.balloonstunesbbq.com.