The Quad City skies will soon be bursting with color for the Quad Cities Balloon Festival.

The festival will be August 12th & 13th. There will be food vendors, bounce houses for the kids, and on both days, the balloon launch will be at 6:00 p.m. There will be a balloon glow at dusk. You can even hang out in a balloon if you want to since they'll be offering tethered rides.

Now, there are many beautiful balloons in the lineup for the Quad Cities Balloon Festival but I particularly love this guy: Peg Leg Pete, piloted by Dave Reineke out of Rock Island.

Admission is free but you're asked to donate to Shriner's Hospitals for Children in lieu of it. The Shriners will be there to accept donations.

Event Calendar

Friday, August 12:

• 4:00 p.m.- Gates open. Food vendors/Bounce houses available through 9:00 p.m.
• 6:00 p.m.- Balloon Launch & tethered rides
• About 7:45 p.m.-8:45 p.m.- Balloon glow

Saturday, August 13:

• 3:00 p.m.- Gates open. Food vendors/Bounce houses available through 9:00 p.m.
• 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.- Car Show on Launch Field
• 6:00 p.m.- Balloon Launch & tethered rides
• About 7:45 p.m.-8:45 p.m.- Balloon glow

The balloon festivities will be in Davenport, at Rhythm City Casino, which is located at 7077 Elmore Ave.

For more details about the Quad Cities Balloon Festival, and to see pics of all of the 17 colorful balloons that will take flight, you can visit their website. Keep up with the latest from the festival as we get closer to it on their Facebook page here.