April 28, 2016 Louisville, KY. – The new U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloon Charity Race, scheduled to fly this morning from Bowman Field, has been cancelled due to the low cloud ceiling and unfavorable flying conditions. 18 local celebrities and media personalities were set to compete in the race and try to win $1,000 for their charity of choice, donated by the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Foundation. While the race will not be rescheduled, a charity will still benefit from the event. The Festival’s Foundation will draw the name of the winning charity and a check will be presented on Saturday at the annual BalloonFest Awards Luncheon.
No decision has been made on the status of the U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloon Glimmer, scheduled for 8:30 p.m. tonight at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront. 19 balloons are scheduled to participate in the event on the North and South Great Lawn. The Glimmer will be preceded by live music at 7 p.m. from KY Salsa Allstars on the Great Stage.
Other events on the U.S. Bank Great BalloonFest schedule include: the U.S. Bank Great Balloon Rush-Hour Race at 7 a.m. at Bowman Field on Friday, April 29; the U.S. Bank Great Balloon Glow at 9 p.m. on Friday night; and the U.S. Bank Great Balloon Race at 7 a.m. on Saturday, April 30.
Since the first Great Balloon Race was held in 1973, the Derby Festival’s balloon events have been considered among the best in the country by pilots from all around the world. BalloonFest attractions are annually among the most popular family-friendly events on the Derby Festival schedule.
The Kentucky Derby Festival Great BalloonFest is sponsored by U.S. Bank with Contributing Sponsors Mortenson Family Dental and Publishers Press. 99.7 DJX is Media Sponsor of the Rush Hour Race and Great Balloon Race. Q103.1 is Media Sponsor of the Great Balloon Glow. WLKY TV is the TV broadcast partner for the Glow.
The Derby Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. It entertains more than 1.5 million people annually. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.
