One of the most-anticipated and best-attended events of the Kentucky Derby Festival, the 2014 Balloon Glow, will thrill Louisville again this Friday, April 25. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. at the Kentucky Expo Center, and you’ll want to arrive early so you’ll have plenty of time to watch all of the hot air balloons prepared and inflated. The sky will be dark and the majority of balloons will be completely filled by 9:00. A musical score to accompany the display has been planned, as well.
The Kentucky Derby Festival reports that around 50,000 people attend the Glow each year. Participants have a chance to get up close to watch the inflation process, ask questions of the balloon pilots and then stand surrounded by hundreds of massive glowing balloons.
If you want to attend balloon races, as well, you have two choices: The Great Balloon Rush-Hour Race precedes the Balloon Glow, at 7:00 a.m. Friday morning, and the Great Balloon Race happens at 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning.
The 2014 Balloon Glow is sponsored by U.S. Bank, and is free with a 2014 Pegasus pin. Parking at the Kentucky Expo Center is $8.
Photos: Kachina Shaw
