We have an AWESOME show planned for y'all at this year's Great Texas Balloon Race. Joe Nichols is headlining on Saturday night. The drone shows are coming back. We'll also have everyone's favorite features at the Longview Convention Complex in June. CHECK OUT FULL DETALS BELOW!

The Great Texas Balloon Race will land again this June in Longview, bringing with it the top hot air balloon pilots from across the nation, one of Country music’s most-lauded recording artists, and the return of an entertaining and inspiring Texas-themed drone show.

Multi-platinum Country music star Joe Nichols will headline the Great Texas Balloon Race concert lineup on Saturday, June 14. New Orleans band Bag Of Donuts , a “Superpop” party band, will headline Friday, June 13. Opening acts are Untold Story on June 13 and Sheila and the Caddo Kats on June 14.

“We are proud to continue bringing high quality musical entertainment to Longview as part of the Great Texas Balloon Race. With a mixture of Country, a great stage show band, Americana, and Country pop, this year’s entertainment lineup is intended to appeal to a wide audience, and we look forward to showcasing these talented performers,” said Gai Bennett, chair of this year’s event.

The Great Texas Balloon Race and the Balloon Federation of America U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship — presented by Eastman Credit Union — returns June 10-15 to the Longview Convention Complex.

Joe Nichols, who headlines June 14, has a sound that blurs the boundaries between country music’s past and present that has earned him more than two billion cumulative audio streams/views and a half-dozen No. 1 singles with 10 Top 10 hits. His songs like “Brokenheartsville,” “Size Matters,” Gimme that Girl,” “Sunny and 75,” and “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Off” have earned Nichols CMA and ACM awards, three Grammy nominations, and are sure to have crowds singing along.

Sheila and the Caddo Kats, from the “East Edge of Texas,” will open June 14. Showcasing the vocals of Marshall native Sheila Clark Fox, two-time winner of Nashville’s Entertainer of the Year, the Kats draw on an acclaimed international rhythm section to present a performance that takes listeners back in time. The band’s third album “Country Soul Living in the City” won 2022’s Album of the Year at the World Largest Independent Awards Ceremony, the JMAs.

Longview will get a taste of New Orleans on the night of Friday, June 13, as Bag of Donuts headlines bringing its flamboyant performance combining showmanship, call-and-response audience participation, visual ingenuity, and pure entertainment to the stage. New Orleans named Bag of Donuts one of the most popular local acts, and they have several times been named Offbeat Magazine’s Cover Band of the Year.

Alternative and classic rock cover band Untold Story out of Tyler will open on June 13.

Following the Bill Bussey Balloon Glow both Friday and Saturday nights, crowds again this year will be treated to a drone performance each featuring 350 drones creating a unique 3D show in the sky. One of the most talked-about features of last year’s event, the drone show will warm up crowds for the headlining entertainment each night.

“We are very excited to bring the Flylight drones back again this year. Last year’s drone show was such a huge hit with our guests. They will be back this year with an even larger drone fleet!” Bennett said.

The Great Texas Balloon Race will be Friday, June 13, through Sunday, June 15. All ticketed events will be held at the Longview Convention Complex, 1123 Jaycee Drive. Gates open at 4 p.m. June 13-14 for the festival, which includes (weather permitting) special shape balloon inflations, RE/MAX skydiving team, vendors, KidsLand, tethered balloon rides, Bill Bussey Balloon Glows and more in addition to the live music and drone shows.

The Balloon Federation of America U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championships kick off the action in the air with world-class pilots engaged in competition flights over Longview starting Tuesday, June 10.

Opening acts take the stage at 6:30 p.m. June 13-14 with headliners scheduled to perform at 9:45 p.m. Tickets are now on sale at https://events.outhousetickets.com/.../great.../tickets. More information about this year’s event is at https://gtbr.net.