Photo by Ken Ruinard

Fireworks light the sky while GAMAC plays patriotic music at the William A. Floyd Amphitheater Sunday during Celebrate Anderson, part of the Great Southeast BalloonFest in Anderson.

ANDERSON — When Freedom Weekend Aloft left Anderson in 2007 after nearly a decade at the Anderson Sports and Entertainment Complex, Anderson County officials knew they had to keep a semblance of their signature festival around.

After all, what would they do with all the water towers painted up like hot air balloons?

By Labor Day last year, the county owned the Great Southeast BalloonFest and in just a few months, put together a lineup of musical talent, a National Balloon Federation championship and a festival that would rival even the biggest Freedom Weekend Aloft.

For an encore, things are looking even better.

From Aug. 29 through Sept. 1, the Great Southeast BalloonFest will take place once more and with it comes three nights of concerts, rides and activities for the children, dozens of balloons taking off, landing and lighting up the evening.

“The reality is, we are putting on three, no four, events in one weekend,” said Fred Foster, executive director of the Great Southeast BalloonFest. “You have the ballooning championship, the Great American Rockin’ Rib Rock-off, Celebrate Anderson and all the other concerts and the festival itself. If we can’t get people out for this, I don’t know what to give them.”

In addition to concerts from Alabama’s Randy Owen, The Wallflowers and the GAMAC Orchestra playing the score from “Star Wars,” BalloonFest welcomes for the first time, a barbecue contest unlike anything the Upstate has seen.

The Great American Rockin’ Rib Rock-off is put on by JesterCo. out of Greer. Earlier this year, its executive director was looking for a place to put on his huge barbecue contest and battle of the bands after one prospect decided they were not ready for it. When BalloonFest organizers heard about it, they jumped at the chance to bring a barbecue event into the fold.

“This is a huge addition,” said Charles Wyatt, executive director of the Civic Center of Anderson and entertainment coordinator for BalloonFest. “They have taken care of all the food vendors and the local entertainment and added their own touch to this whole thing.”

Not only will the Rib Rock-off feature more than 100 food vendors this year, versus the two dozen or so at last year’s BalloonFest, it will also host a Battle of the Bands, hold cooking demonstrations and show the Clemson/Alabama football game and Pepsi 500 NASCAR race on a 30-foot inflatable screen on Saturday and Sunday.

“Anderson was ready for the big time with an event like this and I couldn’t say no,” said Jeremy Cooper, executive director of JesterCo. “This was the right place at the right time and I think it will make both events better.”

Of course, the balloons will remain the star of the show. Starting Tuesday and ending Aug. 30, the National Balloon Federation will hold their championship with dozens of the top balloonists in the country.

Volunteers are still needed to help the balloon crews and registration forms are still being accepted by volunteer coordinator Kelly Jo Barnwell.

“Volunteers are great everywhere but the ballooning,” Foster said. “But that’s because they are needed from 5:30 to about 9 a.m. It’s right when school or work is happening. I just hope more will volunteer as soon as possible.”

Those interested can call Barnwell at 864-231-2237.

Everyone involved expects this year’s BalloonFest to be better than ever. The growing pains of the first year are out of the way and even though the state of South Carolina only awarded $100,000 in grant money — versus $200,000 last year — the organizers have had time to make up for that with sponsorships, gifts in kind and more.

“The politics of the county certainly made things difficult this year,” said Joey Preston, Anderson County administrator, “but we have worked hard and everyone I have spoken to is excited about everything that will happen next week.”

Funding for the BalloonFest came from the state grants, as well as money from some of the Anderson County Council district’s recreation funds. They were also able to cut costs with JesterCo.’s involvement as they cover the local music and food angles. Add to that sponsors and donations and Foster believes this year they will at least break even and perhaps put money away for next year.

“That is quite an achievement for a second year festival that lost $100,000 in state grant money from one year to the next,” Foster said.

The Great Southeast BalloonFest will be at the Anderson Sports and Entertainment Complex from Aug. 29 through Sept. 1. Tickets are available to the concerts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday by calling 864-260-4800. For more information, call 864-231-2237.

For a complete schedule of events, go to www.greatsoutheastballoonfest.com.