Craig Morgan, The Oak Ridge Boys ready to take the stage at Indiana Balloon Fest

Hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes will dot the Bloomington sky as the Kiwanis Club of South Central Indiana hosts its 10th annual Indiana Balloon Fest at the Monroe County Fairgrounds.

The event begins Thursday and continues Friday and Saturday with live entertainment, food, drinks as well as both a "Kid Zone" and "Adult Zone."

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The Adult Zone will include zip lines, axe throwing and a mechanical bull.

The Kid Zone includes bounce houses for children of all ages to enjoy.

Both of the zones are included with admission.

Balloon Fest organizer Vanessa McCLary said the event is a fundraiser for Kiwanis.

"It's a way for us to bring families out to have a good time, and we raise money to help kids," McClary said.

She noted the money will help organizations like Riley Children's Hospital, the Boys and Girls Club, and visually impaired preschool services.

"We want people to know that when they're buying tickets, they're helping kids," McClary noted.

One of the events that will help raise funds is a silent auction, which McClary said will kickoff Thursday.

The festival has always had live entertainment, but most of the bands have been local musicians.

At 6:30 p.m. Friday, a Kids Fun Run will be hosted by IU Circle K.

One year, the organization was able to book Lee Greenwood, who is best known for the song "God Bless the U.S.A."

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The entertainment Thursday and Friday will be the local musicians and tribute bands, but this year's lineup will be highlighted by The Oak Ridge Boys and Craig Morgan, two national country music touring acts with a number of top-10 hits.

This year, SCI Kiwanis partnered with Martinsville-based RD Productions to help put together the concerts.

"I'm proud to be involved in this thing," RD Productions owner Rob Helms said. "Because, this is like a true music festival for me."

Craig Morgan

Morgan, a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2008, has been touring around the country for more than 20 years.

His first hit to reach the top-10 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, "Almost Gone" was released in 2002.

Since then, Morgan has released seven more top 10 songs including "Redneck Yacht Club," "International Harvester" and his No. 1 hit "That's What I Love About Sunday."

After so many years on the road, Morgan said touring is a normal part of his job.

"But, at the same time, I feel extremely blessed, and I'm humbled by the fact I still get to go out there and do it," Morgan noted.

While he still plays to some very large crowds, which can easily number above 30,000, Morgan said some of his favorite concerts take place at more intimate venues.

"When we're in those small environments, there is an interaction that takes place between us and the fans that I think can't take place in those bigger shows," he added.

The country musician recently participated on the CBS reality TV show "Beyond the Edge," a competition show with other celebrities which helped raise money for a charity of the participant's choosing.

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Morgan played for Operation Finally Home, an organization that provides mortgage-free homes for veterans, first responders and the families of those killed in action.

Himself a veteran of the U.S. Army, Morgan feels giving back to American veterans is a duty, noting less than 1% of the country serves in the military.

"And it is that military that truly provides us with the freedoms that we celebrate in this country," Morgan said.

The Oak Ridge Boys

The Oak Ridge Boys have been touring for decades, with roots as far back as the 1940s.

The current quartet of William Lee Golden, Duane Allen, Richard Sterban and Joe Bonsall began touring together in the early 1970s.

Golden left the band in the late 1980s before returning in 1995.

The group is not only members of the Grand Ole Opry, but was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame back in 2015.

Throughout the band's decades of making music, it has been awarded two Academy of Country Music Awards, four Country Music Association Awards and five Grammy Awards.

During the late 1970s and 80s, the band released 17 No. 1 hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart as well as an additional 17 top 10 hits.

"Lucky Moon," the band's most recent top 10 hit, was released in 1990.

"We are looking forward to coming your way," Sterban said about the upcoming Bloomington concert. "We plan to have a great time and will do our best to make it a great night."

The group's signature song, "Elvira" was not only a hit on the country charts, but also peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and at No. 8 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart back in 1981.

Sterban is the band's bass singer and performs the "oom-pa-pa-oom-pa-pa-mow-mow" lyrics on "Elvira."

He said having a song as popular as "Elvira" is special.

"Even now, even after all these years, we just hit the introduction on stage at a show, and people immediately stand up and start dancing, they start singing along," Sterban noted.

While the band is expected to play many of its hits, songs from the group's newest album will also be included in the setlist.

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"Front Porch Singin,'" Sterban noted, includes inspirational songs recorded during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, including some gospel songs folks will recognize, as well as some new singles.

"(The album) is very healing in nature, it is songs that give people hope," Sterban added.

Saturday's performance will be fun for the entire family, he said.

"It is just going to be a good night of good country music and good family entertainment," Sterban said.

Balloon Fest Concert schedule

Thursday

• 6 p.m.: The Dynamics

• 7:30 p.m.: Tony Walker and the 2nd Half Band

• 9 p.m.: Soul Street

Friday

• 6 p.m.: Coner Berry Duo

• 7 p.m.: Cody Ikerd and the Sidewinders

• 8:30 p.m.: The Eagles Project (Eagles Tribute)

Saturday

• 5 p.m.: Jake Dodds

• 6 p.m.: Bigg Country

• 7:15 p.m.: The Oak Ridge Boys

• 9 p.m.: Craig Morgan

Ticket information

Tickets are $20 per carload Thursday and Friday individually, with a $30 option per carload for both days combined.

For Saturday, tickets are $20 for the gold section and $50 for platinum, and children 6 and under are free.

"And you can come and go with your bracelet, every day," McClary said. "Especially Saturday, they can come early in the morning, so they'll have bracelets each day."

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No pets, coolers, outside food and drinks will be allowed into the venue.

Concert-goers will also need to bring their own chairs.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Oak Ridge Boys, Craig Morgan ready to rock at Indiana Balloon Fest