"Make it inclusive".
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This is the aim of the Canowindra International Balloon Challenge committee, with plans to run a number of events during the week alongside the competition in the skies in the hopes of getting more townspeople involved.
Patron and committee member, Tommy Jeffs, said there will be something for the whole family, with events will taking place in the lead up to the Cabonne Community Balloon Glow on Saturday, May 1.
"We're trying to involve the town in it this time," Mr Jeffs said.
"In the past years, it's always been the balloonists, and then the people that come over to see the Balloon Glow, the tourists, which is good but we still want to involve the townspeople in it."
Mr Jeffs said, in previous years, locals and visitors alike would often visit other surrounding towns, like Orange, between seeing the balloons in the early hours and attending the Glow.
"You had all these people around and there was nothing for them to do," he said.
"Took money out of town, they spent in Orange when they should have been spending it in town."
To address these issues, a jam-packed line up is planning for Thursday, April 29 and Saturday, May 1.
From 6pm on Thursday, a complimentary cocktail party will be held at Montrose House with the balloonists, while a market night featuring stalls and fashion parades will take place up and down Gaskill Street.
"It's a chance for them to meet the locals and for the locals to meet them as well," Mr Jeffs said.
"There's a market night on the Thursday as well so all the shops will be open, the pubs will be open.
"It will just be a good atmosphere."
The Saturday will feature competitions, food, drink, live entertainment, shopping and a parade down the main street.
"There's a major parade down the main street, we're closing the main street off from 9.30am till 12.30pm," Mr Jeffs said.
Along with the parade, which will feature balloonists and antique cars, there will be a Ben Hall reenactment in front of the Royal Hotel, fashion parades, live dance performances, market stalls and live music.
"Then most people will make their way up to the grounds about 3pm and they've got live music," Mr Jeffs said.
"Then the Balloon Glow happens and there's lot of gourmet trailers up there selling all types of different foods and drinks.
"Afterwards they are doing an ACDC tribute band at the Canowindra Services Club from 8pm."
Alongside the festivities, there will be a cake cooking competition hosted by the Craft Shop, a bike decorating competition, a window decorating competition for businesses in the main street, cutest pet and prettiest doll.
With nearly 2000 tickets purchased for the Balloon Glow, Mr Jeffs encouraged locals to join in the events.
"There's plenty to do all the way through," he said.
"[I] encourage local people to come down and support it, make a day of it.
"We need to make it about the town as well."