The 38th Annual Great Forest Park Balloon Race was held September 17-18.  The event is traditionally held on the third weekend of September due to the typically favorable St. Louis weather, and this year brought clear skies and warm temperatures.  The lack of wind produced short flights, but made for a majestic launch.

Thousands of spectators gathered Friday night at the nationally renowned Forest Park in St. Louis for the Balloon Glow, an opportunity to view the inflated balloons, highlighted by the flames from their burners, after dusk.  The main event, on Saturday, included activities for the whole family – dog shows, gymnastics demonstrations, pony rides, main stage entertainment and of course, lots of food and souvenir vendors.  Ballooning preparations began later in the afternoon as crews unloaded their equipment in designated areas.  Crews inflated their balloons for a tethered photo opportunity event, and four skydivers landed within the center field circle.  The moment to launch the 67 balloons came about 5:00pm.

The Great Forest Park Balloon Race is a fox and hare chase event.  The Energizer Bunny balloon, the world’s largest balloon (166 feet tall), took off, drifted slowly westward in the still air and landed in another field in the park to mark the target.  The other balloons took off soon afterward, and their crews dropped bags of seed at the target.  Dick Goss, from Leander, Texas, dropped his seed bag only 17 feet from the target to become this year’s winner.  The balloon sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, piloted by Shane Robinson from Springfield, MO came in second place.  Many spectators lingered on after the launch to view the remaining balloons in flight and enjoy the fair atmosphere.  Many will return next year, third weekend in September, to do it all over again.