New Hot Air Balloon Events Join Marion County's Country Ham Days

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Aug. 3, 2016 - PRLog -- Ham, glorious ham. Marion County Country Ham Days sizzles with a two-day feast, held Sept. 23-25, that does the pig proud. A "Kentucky Top-Ten Event," this family-friendly festival brings two new hot air balloon events this year – the Yellowstone Hot Air Balloon Glow and the Limestone Branch Hot Air Balloon Lift-Off.

Ham Days also includes live music, featuring the Cincinnati Dancing Pigs Jugg Band; a Classic Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show; carnival rides and more – not to mention heaping helpings of delicious country ham. Click here (http://marioncountykychamber.com/ham-days/) for details. A full schedule of events is here (http://marioncountykychamber.com/ham-days/ham-days-schedule/).

Ham Days highlights

Chow down on the festival's legendary country ham breakfast, served from 7 to 11 a.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday. (Shiner's Restaurant is catering the breakfast this year.) Join the crowd for the PIGasus Parade, which makes its way down Main Street at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Head to the Main Stage at 4 p.m. for "Hammin' It Up Idol." Carnival rides swing into action in advance of the festival on Friday evening.

Good old-fashioned fun

Marion County Country Ham Days has activities for everyone: Pokey Pig 5K Race; Antique Engine and Tractor Show; Market Place booths; arts and crafts booths; Jr. Farmer and Little Miss Ham Days; Children's Parade; Hog Calling Contest; Champion Ham Auction; Pedal Pull and Hog Calling contests, Hay Bale Toss and more.

Sure to be favorites will be the new Yellowstone Hot Air Balloon Glow on Saturday evening and the Limestone Branch Hot Air Balloon Lift-Off on Sunday morning. Both balloon events will take place at Graham Memorial Park. In addition to these events, a new "This is Marion County" section will join Ham Days to feature all things Marion County, including factories and the products they produce.

Throughout the festival, musical groups will perform on the Main Stage and include such well-known bands as No Deceit, the New Deal, Rock Castle, The Honeysuckle Stringband and Crew. Cloggers will also entertain. Additionally, the Cincinnati Dancing Pigs Jugg Band will present a special concert at 7 p.m. at Angelic Hall on Friday evening.

In addition to lots of delicious country ham, there will be beans and cornbread, pork sandwiches, hot dogs, brats, rib-eye sandwiches and gyros, not to mention sweets like ice cream, fried Twinkies, funnel cakes and more.

Make a weekend of it

There is plenty to see and do in Lebanon to fill out your Ham Days weekend. Pop into the Marion County Heritage Center to see the costumes and other memorabilia in the exhibit dedicated to Elvis performer Eddie Miles. Check out the world's largest collection of J.W. Pepper Instruments in the Don Johnson Musical Instrument Collection. Hike the scenic 3-plus mile Gorley Naturalist Trail with its 47 bridges. Go canoeing at Fagan Branch Reservoir. Fish for largemouth bass and other fish at Sportsman's Lake. Tour and taste at Maker's Mark Distillery and Limestone Branch Distillery. And grab a selfie at the Maker's Mark water tower.

Overnight in a charming guestroom at the 1833 Myrtledene Bed and Breakfast or a cabin overlooking Rosewood Golf Course. Lebanon has a variety of lodging choices for every budget. Visit the Lebanon Tourist & Convention Commission (http://www.visitlebanonky.com/) for more information.

Marion County Country Ham Days, Lebanon, KY

Festival website: www.HamDays.com, 270-692-9594

Date

Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 23-25, 2016

Ham Breakfast: 7-11 a.m. Sat.; 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sun.

Friday evening events include: The Cincinnati Dancing Pigs Jugg Band, 7 p.m. at Angelic Hall. Opening of carnival rides.

Saturday events include: PIGasus Parade 1 p.m. No Deceit concert 2:30 p.m.-4:45 p.m. Hot Air Balloon Glow, 8-10 p.m.

Sunday events include: Hot Air Balloon Lift-Off, 7:30 a.m. The Honeysuckle String Band, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Cloggers, 1 p.m.

Place

Downtown Lebanon, KY 40033

Cost

Free (parking also free). HamBreakfast tickets: $10/adults, $8/children.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Nena Olivier, Executive Director, Director@VisitLebanonKy.com, 270-692-0021

Lebanon Tourist & Convention Commission, www.VisitLebanonKy.com

HI- and LOW-RES photos available.

ABOUT LEBANON, KY (http://www.visitlebanonky.com/) │ Geographically located in the center of the state, Lebanon (http://www.visitlebanonky.com/) is the "Heart of Bourbon Country," the epicenter of Kentucky barrel and bourbon making. Attractions include Maker's Mark Distillery, Limestone Branch Distillery, photo op stop Lebanon/Maker's Mark Water Tower and the Kentucky Cooperage. For outdoor enthusiasts, Gorley Naturalist Trail presents challenging hiking and biking and the scenic splendor of 47 bridges. Fagan Branch Reservoir and Sportsman's Lake beckon canoeists, kayakers and boaters (non-motorized boats) and fishers and anglers for waters stocked with rainbow trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish, crappie and hybrid bluegill. Incorporated as a city in 1815, Lebanon played a crucial role during the Civil War and is today on the Civil War Discovery Trail. It is also part of Kentucky's historic Holy Land, with sites including the Sisters of Loretto Motherhouse. Visual and performing arts and pop culture and historic treasures are found at the Marion County Heritage Center, Stillhouse Art Museum and Angelic Hall at Centre Square. Shop for antiques, collectibles and handmade crafts downtown and dine at your choice of 40 eateries – everything from casual full-service restaurants to home-style cafes to an old-fashioned soda fountain. Accommodations options include bed and breakfast inns, golf course lodging and the Hampton Inn. Facebook.com/VisitLebanon (http://www.facebook.com/VisitLebanon)