Feel like celebrating? Then get ready for Rare Earth: The group kicks off the Sequim Balloon Festival with a special concert on August 31. Submitted photo

For the kick-off festivities of the new Sequim Balloon Festival, organizers are bringing a rarity to town with a chance to see one of the top acts in rock over the past 30 years. 

Rare Earth, players of hits like “I Just Want to Celebrate,” “Get Ready,” “Hey Big Brother,” and “(I Know)  I'm Losing You” bring those same classics and newer turnouts to open the festival on Friday, Aug. 31. 

The band has played more than 3,000 concerts in its lifetime, including gigs on the Ed Sullivan Show and Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, and recently began touring again.  

Two of their albums, "Get Ready" and "Rare Earth in Concert" have gone Double Platinum, one Platinum ("One World"), and three Gold (“Ecology," “Willie Remembers,” and “Ma”). 

The Fabulous Johnsons open the concert with a surprise guest helping them close out their set with a special finale. 

Rare Earth's concert is a separate paid event from the Balloon Festival, which kicks off the following day at 6 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 1. 

For more information on the Sequim Balloon Festival, visit www.sequimballoonfestival.com.