Rain and winds cancel Rush Hour Race

April 25, 2014– LOUISVILLE, KY   – 31 Balloons will draw for positions in tonight’s U.S. Bank Great Balloon Glow at the BalloonFest Position Draw to be held today at NOON at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium in the Brown & Williamson Club.  The Position Draw will determine where balloons will be located on the field for tonight’s Glow at the Kentucky Exposition Center.

This morning’s U.S. Bank Great Balloon Rush Hour Race was cancelled due to rainy and windy conditions.  The Friday morning drive time race was added to the BalloonFest in 2005 and has been cancelled four times.

More than a dozen balloon crews participated in the second annual U.S. Bank Great Balloon Crew Challenge held last night at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville.  The crew with the Mortenson Family Dental balloon won the competition which included three timed challenges. The tasks included rolling a balloon (weighing over 200 lbs) into a bag (along a 75 ft. course), inflating mini-balloons, and fishing a Pepsi out of a cooler full of Coca-Cola.

Conditions were also perfect for the “mini-glow” on the Great Lawn.  An estimated crowd of over 3,000 watched as 18 balloons participated in last night’s U.S. Bank Great Balloon Glimmer at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville.

The Derby Festival balloon events remain one of Louisville’s favorite family traditions.  Though not the largest, the race is regarded by pilots as one of the country’s most prestigious balloon events and began in 1973 with eleven balloons flying in the inaugural launch from Iroquois Park.

Remaining U.S. Bank Great BalloonFest Events:

·         U.S. Bank Great Balloon Glow at 9 p.m. on Friday, April 25, at Kentucky Exposition Center.  Gates open at 6 p.m.  Admission is free with a 2014 Pegasus Pin. $8 KEC parking fee.  Contributing Sponsor:  New Country Q103.1.

·         U.S. Bank Great Balloon Race at 7 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, at Bowman Field. Public entrance off Pee Wee Reese Road.  Contributing Sponsor:  Easy Rock 105.1.