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The Great Forest Park Balloon Race (Glow)

  • Emerson Central Fields Emerson Central Fields in Forest Park St. Louis, Mo 63112 (map)

The Great Forest Park Balloon Race

THE GLOW  |  TENTATIVE 2024 SCHEDULE

  • 5:00 P.M. – Emerson Central Fields Opens 

    • Food trucks, concessions and St. Charles Nissan & Hyundai Family Picnic Areas open! (visit our FAQS page for more info about coolers and concessions). 

    • Visit the PNC Bank Mobile Learning Adventure PLUS Activities from St. Louis Children’s Hospital, tractor fun with Sydentricker Nobbe, and more! 

    • Midway concessions, food trucks, inflatables, games and sponsor activities begin

  • 6:00 P.M. – Dance with DJ Reggie at the WASH U Main Stage

  • 6:45 P.M. TO 8:45 P.M.** – THE BALLOON GLOW

The balloons “glow” like huge fireflies, a truly magical scene, and one not to be missed! The balloons do not launch during the balloon glow but for a portion of the evening (weather permitting) the rope line will be released, and spectators will be invited to walk around to enjoy the view and chat with pilots and crew.

  • 9:00 P.M.  – THE U.S. ARMY GOLDEN KNIGHTS PARACHUTE TEAM TAKES FLIGHT

  • 9:15 P.M. – PNC BANK FIREWORKS FINALE


The Great Forest Park Balloon Race, presented by PNC Bank, invites you to celebrate blue skies and soft landings on Fri., Sept. 20 (The GLOW) and Sat., Sept. 21 (The RACE). This annual tradition brings more than 100,000 spectators together for two days of outdoor fun, “wow” moments, new experiences, and memories to last a lifetime.

“We are so proud to collaborate with our generous sponsors and the City of St. Louis – and to have welcomed such a large and diverse crowd from throughout the entire region and beyond,” said Jessica Stegen, GFPBR director of Communications and Event Production. “Whether it’s a couple on their first date, a group of friends taking a day to just be outside together or grandparents who can’t get enough of the joy the balloons bring to their grandchildren’s faces, the tradition continued in grand fashion throughout the entire weekend.”

GFPBR is one of the longest running hot air balloon races in the country, and one of the only that takes place in a large metropolitan city. The tradition began in 1973 with a handful of hot air balloons and a few spectators. Now an internationally renowned event, GFPBR welcomes more than 50 of the nation’s best hot air balloon pilots and thousands of spectators annually. Learn more about our unique history.

Thanks to our generous GFPBR sponsors, attendance is FREE and the number of memories and photographs you can capture is endless.

  • Presenting Sponsor: PNC

  • Major Contributing Sponsor: Blue Moon

  • Sponsor: Washington University

  • Participating "Family Picnic Area" Sponsor: St. Charles Automotive

  • Contributing "Children's Entertainment Area" Sponsor: Purina

  • Participating "Land" Sponsor: Sydenstricker Nobbe