The Great Forest Park Balloon Race returns to Emerson Central Fields Friday and Saturday, September 15 and 16.

This is a guide to help you navigate the largest event in the Park so you don’t miss out on all the fun!

Event Schedule:

• Balloon Glow: September 15

  • Festivities begin at 5:00 p.m.; the Balloon Glow starts at dusk.

• Balloon Race: September 16

  • 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Top Navigation Tips:

• Bike to Forest Park. There will be several bike racks along the route. Find your way using ForestParkMap.org.

• Take the MetroLink to the Central West End Station and travel less than a mile to Emerson Central Fields.

• Schedule a ride-share and be dropped off at one of the locations listed in the map below.

  • Pickup/ Drop offs will be located on the North Side of Lindell Blvd. at DeBaliviere near the Missouri History Museum, and at the intersection of Union and Grand Ave. in the Park.

The Great Forest Park Balloon Race is a free event. Free street and public lot parking is available throughout Forest Park all weekend. Please keep in mind spots are limited so we suggest planning ahead and arriving as early as you can. All of the notes and restrictions/closures listed below will be in effect to help with safety, traffic flow and ease of access to Forest Park.

Driving? We recommend the following for entry and parking:

• Enter/exit the Park at

  • Grand or Union from Forest Park Parkway/ Lindell

  • DeBaliviere Ave.

  • Skinker/ Forsyth

  • Hampton Ave.**see notes below about closure timing on Friday***

• Park at the Festival & Parking Plaza (upper Muny parking lot), the closest public parking lot to the event. Bonus tip – explore Hidden Creek Savanna along the way.

  • The only entry point will be from Summit Drive. The north side of the lot at Union Drive will be exit only.

• Union and Lindell, Kingshighway and West Pine or Lagoon and Skinker.

Important Notes About Entry

• East and West-bound Exit Ramps at I-64 and Hampton Ave. will be CLOSED – 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15

• Hospital Drive at Kingshighway will be closed = NO LEFT turns onto Kingshighway (going northbound) from Hospital Drive stop light.

• NOTE ABOUT THE UPPER MUNY PARKING LOT: As seen on the map above, there are two ways to enter the Upper Muny Lot (from McKinley & from Union). To assist with traffic flow within Forest Park, the Upper Muny Lot will be a ONE WAY Entry and ONE WAY Exit on September 15 and 16, 2023. THE NORTH SIDE OF THE LOT AT UNION DRIVE WILL BE EXIT ONLY.

Additional Public Transportation Notes

• Central Fields is located just under a mile from two MetroLink stations. Eastbound passengers should exit at Forest Park-Debaliviere, walk south into the park and then east on Grand Drive. Westbound passengers should exit at Central West End, walk west on Children’s Place, cross into the park and follow westbound walking paths to Faulkner Drive.

• Be sure to download Transit, the official app of Metro Transit. Purchase your Metro passes ahead of time on the Transit app, which also provides route maps, next departure times and trip planning, including a trip that combines Metro Transit with ride-sharing.

ADA Accessibility **NEW LOCATION IN 2023!**

•  Accessible Parking (limited availability) will be available with a gate at MCKINKLEY & WELLS DRIVE NEAR THE JEWEL BOX (see Map Above). YOU MUST HAVE A STATE ISSUED ADA ACCESSIBLE PARKING TAG OR PLATES to access this parking area.

  • This parking area is in direct proximity to the new location of our BJC Accessible Viewing Area supported by the Starkloff Disability Institute. READ MORE ABOUT THIS AREA HERE.

• The Great Forest Park Balloon Race is an outdoor event and the natural terrain may at times be difficult to traverse.