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May 31, 2023

BalloonFest returns for Kentucky Derby Festival

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — UPDATE: Due to the weather and cloud ceilings, Friday's balloon race has been canceled. According to a press release, even though the Great Balloon Rush Hour Race is canceled, the

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — UPDATE: Due to the weather and cloud ceilings, Friday's balloon race has been canceled.

According to a press release, even though the Great Balloon Rush Hour Race is canceled, the other two events - The Great Balloon Glow and the Great Balloon Race - are still going to happen.

Friday night will welcome the L&N Federal Credit Union Great Balloon Glow back for its second year. It starts at 9 p.m. at Kroger's Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront.

Guests are encouraged to head to the Waterfront for food, concerts, rides and more. Balloon pilots will start firing their burners around 9 p.m. where they will glow against the night sky.

Saturday at 7 a.m. is when the L&N Federal Credit Union Great Balloon Race is scheduled to happen according to the release. More than 20 balloons will launch from Bowman Field that morning.

Since the first race in 1973, the Derby Festival's "balloon events have been considered among the best in the country by pilots from all around the world."

Admission to all three balloon events is free with a Pegasus Pin. The pins are $7 in stores and $10 at the entrance of events.

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