Lincoln hosting Airport Open House on Aug. 26

The Lincoln Airport Open House and Family Festival is back this year with promises to be even better than its inaugural event last year. "This year, the event is going to be bigger with more aircrafts and classic cars," said Richard Pearl, who helps organize the event with the city of Lincoln. "This year, it will be larger and more varied." The event is scheduled from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at the Lincoln Regional Airport at 1480 Flightline Drive. The event showcases classic cars and historic airplanes at the airport and has a number of other highlights as well. This year's event plans to include a special aviation simulator for children, visits with local pilots, vintage and specialty cars, a hot air balloon launch, pancake breakfast, tethered hot air balloon rides and more. "The event brings the community to the airport and it brings the airport to the community," Pearl said. "The airport is a tremendous economic driver for Lincoln and the surrounding area." Pearl hopes to include an educational component to the free event with special representation from the Experimental Aircraft Association and William Jessup's aviation program. The event will include 30 vendor booths with artisan goods, non-profit representation and more. Pearl said he and the city could not put on the event if it weren't for the efforts of the Lincoln Area Chamber of Commerce. The event is free, with the exception of a $5 fee for parking. Pearl also said stationary hot air balloon rides are available for $20, $10 for children under 12. The pancake breakfast is available via donation. Pearl said no one is making any money on the event. All net proceeds go to the Experimental Aircraft Association's Lincoln chapter's youth aviation flight training scholarship fund. Last year's family friendly event brought 5,000 people to the airport. This year, Pearl projects that number to be between 7,000 and 10,000. "There is a huge family component," he said. "People just love being out there. It's so enjoyable."