BalloonFest Rush Hour Race Event Details
The U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloon Race is one of Louisville's favorite family traditions. When the Balloons lift off, it provides spectators young and old with an exhilarating view of boundless colors and shapes. Click here to view a history of the Great Balloon Race.How it works
The Great Balloon Race follows a combination of a "Declared Goal" and the traditional ballooning game of "Hare and Hound" race format. The U.S. Bank balloon leads the action as "the Hare". As any good hound would do, the other balloons spawn an aerial chase of the Hare, launching in a planned sequence minutes after the Hare.
The winds determine where the balloons fly. The Hare Balloon flies until it finds a suitable spot preferably in a vacant field. It lands and lays out a large fabric "X" as the target. In hot pursuit, the Hounds try to drop a small bag of Kentucky Bluegrass seed as close to the "X" as possible, all without landing. Race officials then measure the distance between the target and the bag of grass seed at the target zone and calculate points.
The pilot with the most accurate toss is the overall winner receiving $3000 and bragging rights for a year!
Just 7 balloons flew in the inaugural race from Iroquois Park in 1973. A field of more than 30 balloons will take to the sky in 2011. View previous winners.
Hot Flashes
One of the most anticipated events of balloon race weekend is the U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloon Glow. A companion event to the race, the balloons inflate in their launch position on the field, but do not ascend. This spectacular event truly rivals the race in popularity with more than 40,000 fans in attendance annually!
The static luminary show is scheduled for 9 PM at Bowman Field on Friday, April 29th and will be broadcast live on WBKI TV Louisville's CW. There is a rain date of 9 PM the following day. Admission is free if you are wearing a 2011 Pegasus Pin.
Balloon Briefs
- Glow - Fri. April 29 at 9 PM ($5 Parking Fee at Bowman Field).
- Races - Fri. April 29 at 7 a.m. and Sat. April 30 at 7 AM
- ALL are free when you wear a 2011 Pegasus Pin.
