Great Forest Park Balloon Race facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Forest Park Balloon Race |
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| Genre | Hot air balloon festival |
| Dates | 16–17 September 2022 < |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location(s) | Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri |
| Years active | 51 |
| Participants | 70 |
| Attendance | 130,000 |
| Website | http://www.greatforestparkballoonrace.com |
The Great Forest Park Balloon Race is an exciting yearly event. It's a huge hot air balloon festival held in Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri. More than 70 balloons take part, and over 130,000 people come to watch! This makes it the biggest single-day hot air balloon race in the whole United States.
History of the Race
The very first race happened in December 1973. It was started by Nikki Caplan and John O'Toole. Only six balloons and twenty people were there to see it.
In 1977, a new group took over the race. These were four new balloon pilots: John Marlow, John Schaumburg, Ted Staley, and Dan Schettler. They formed a group called the Mississippi River Balloon Transit Company. This company still helps organize the race today. It has grown into the largest and most popular balloon race around!
On May 23, 2000, the race was honored by the American Folklife Center. This center is part of the Library of Congress. It was chosen as a "local legacy" because it's an important part of the community's history. A politician named Dick Gephardt helped make this happen. Now, the Great Forest Park Balloon Race is recorded forever. Its story is told through photos, old ads, news stories, and awards.
No race was held in 2020.
What Happens at the Race
The day before the big race, there's a special event called the Balloon Glow. This happens at night. Spectators can walk among the giant hot air balloons. The balloons are lit up by their burners, making them glow in the dark. It's a really cool sight!
Besides the Balloon Glow, there's also a fireworks show. During the week of the event, the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra plays a free concert. This concert is held on Art Hill, right next to the Saint Louis Art Museum.
During the race, the balloon pilots try to "chase" a huge pink bunny balloon. This bunny balloon is 166 feet tall! The balloons take off from the Central Fields in Forest Park. The goal is to follow the bunny balloon until it lands. Then, each pilot drops a sandbag or birdseed bag. The pilot whose bag lands closest to the bunny wins the race!
Because the race is held in a city, it's known as a "challenging" event. Only invited pilots can take part. Balloons have landed in many different places. These include people's backyards, baseball fields, golf courses, and even street corners. The race also has a fun festival. You can find food, drinks, inflatable castles, and a climbing wall.
