SORRENTO — The three-day Boucherie and Balloon Festival kicks off Friday evening in Sorrento.

For nearly 50 years, the festival has brought cooking contests, hot-air balloons, live music and more to Ascension Parish.

It is the primary fundraiser for the Louisiana Lions Eye Foundation and the Louisiana Lions Camp.

The event provides resources like glasses and hearing aids to those in need in the community. It also helps send children with respiratory disorders, special needs, juvenile diabetes and childhood cancer to camp during the summer.

You can view the full schedule of events here.