The inaugural Kissimmee Blue Skies & Silver Spurs Festival takes place at the end of May. Combining four festivals rolled into one, it's part of a summer of family fun in Central Florida.

The festival promises three days of excitement and thrills from May 31- June 2, 2013 at Formosa Gardens and Osceola Heritage Park (OHP).

Professional rodeo cowboys fight to stay on an angry bull and cowgirls run barrels astride their horses during the Silver Spurs Rodeo. The rodeo, held at the indoor Silver Spurs Arena, is the largest sanctioned rodeo east of the Mississippi and has been a Kissimmee favourite since the 1940s.

Rodeo events will take place at 7:30p.m. Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1 at OHP. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at silverspursrodeo.com.

In the early morning hours, dozens of balloons of all shapes and sizes will take flight during the Blue Skies Balloon Festival. The glorious launch will take your breath away whether you're watching from the ground or enjoying the sights from within a balloon basket. Launches will take place Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2 at 7 a.m. in the Formosa Gardens Area off West US Highway 192. Tickets to ride start at $185 at kissimmeeblueskiesfestival.com.

While the balloons are floating above, there's a challenge below with the Blue Skies Adventure Race. The 3.5 mile race has eight grueling, rodeo themed obstacles to test your level of adventure.  A fully sanctioned and professionally timed race will take place Saturday, June 1 at 7 a.m. at the Formosa Gardens Area. Registration for the race is $50 per runner and available at epicsportsmarketing.com.

In addition to enjoying the sights of hot air balloons above, spectators will be able to enjoy food and ziplining. Race activities also will be available for children.

The afternoon is your chance to take in the sounds of summer. At the Endless Summer Songwriters Festival brought to you by Share a Little Sunshine, songwriters and their bands will perform top country songs on the open stage under the blue sky at OHP. Music and local food will fill the complex on East US Highway 192 Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1, 4:30- 7:30 p.m.  As the sun sets on Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 2, the balloons participating in the Blue Skies Balloon festival will take rest on the lawn of OHP.

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Editor's Notes

Kissimmee is the Central Florida destination for holiday travellers. Located minutes from the Orlando area and world famous theme parks, Kissimmee boasts a complement of accommodation choices to include spacious self-catering rental houses, luxury resorts and villas and famous brand hotels.

Beyond the theme parks, visitors can enjoy championship calibre golf, dinner and a show, and memory making experiences at a number of man-made and natural attractions. Kissimmee's a favoured destination to experience Florida's best sun and fun. Go to www.destinationkissimmee.co.uk.

For further information on Experience Kissimmee, please contact:

Fiona Pettitt, Press Officer

Email: fiona@cellet.co.uk Tel: 08456 020 574.