April 25, 2019. Louisville, KY. – Due to tomorrow morning’s forecast for potential rain and high winds, the BB&T Kentucky Derby Festival Great Balloon Rush Hour Race has been cancelled. The Rush Hour Race was scheduled to launch at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning from Bowman Field.

Derby Festival Officials continue to monitor conditions for the remaining BB&T Great BalloonFest events, including the BB&T Great Balloon Glow at the Kentucky Exposition Center at 9 p.m. tomorrow night; and the BB&T Great Balloon Race on Saturday, April 27, also at Bowman Field.

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 BB&T with Contributing Sponsor Amazon. Official Charity Partner is Kosair Charities. Q103.1 is the Media Sponsor of the Balloon Glimmer. 102.3 Jack FM is Media Sponsor of the Rush Hour Race and Great Balloon Race. 106.9 PLAY 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.