Great Forest Park Balloon Race

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Sports & AdventureSt. Louis
DatesDates TBA · Usually SeptemberCheck locally before booking
DurationAutumnEstimate from available data
CrowdLargeAbout 130,000 people
Best forCompetition, enduranceThe event's signature Hare and Hound race
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategorySports & AdventureFestival type
The story

Great Forest Park Balloon Race in St. Louis

The Great Forest Park Balloon Race is an annual hot air balloon event held in Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri, typically in September, marking the unofficial kickoff to the city's fall festival season. Free to attend, it features dozens of hot air balloons, including the signature Hare Balloon chase race, alongside a glow event the evening before and family activities on the Forest Park lawns.

The Great Forest Park Balloon Race traces its roots to the 1970s, when organizers chose Forest Park, the sprawling urban green space that once hosted the 1904 World's Fair, as the launch site for a hot air balloon race intended to bring the spectacle of ballooning to a wide public audience free of charge.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The event's signature Hare and Hound race format sets it apart from a typical balloon festival: a specially shaped Hare Balloon launches first and lands somewhere in the vicinity, and the following chasing balloons, the hounds, attempt to land closest to it, turning the balloon launch into a genuine competition rather than a simple mass ascension

02

The mystery stays covered

Held in Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country, the race benefits from an unusually large and scenic launch site within a major American city

03

The city starts moving

Free general admission has kept the event accessible to the broad St

04

The water draws everyone in

Louis public for decades, and a Friday evening Balloon Glow, where tethered balloons illuminate from within after dark, has become a beloved lead-in tradition to the Saturday race

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The Hare and Hound chase

Water and renewal

Living ritual

in which chasing hound balloons attempt to land nearest a marker dropped by the lead Hare Balloon

The sacred route

Living ritual

is the event's central and most distinctive tradition

The local code

Living ritual

unchanged in format since the race's early years

Tradition 5

Living ritual

The Friday evening Balloon Glow

Tradition 6

Living ritual

with tethered balloons illuminated after dark

Tradition 7

Living ritual

has become an established lead-in tradition drawing its own dedicated crowd separate from the Saturday race

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually September

Getting around

Getting to Great Forest Park Balloon Race works best when arrival and return routes are decided before the busiest part of the day.

What to wear

Light layers appropriate for a September evening in St. Louis, since daytime warmth can give way to cooler temperatures once the sun sets and balloons launch. Comfortable shoes for walking...

Safety

Great Forest Park Balloon Race is easier when valuables are secure and the group knows where to meet if separated.

Where to stay

For peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of St. Louis.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map38.63 N, 90.20 WOpen in Google Maps

St. Louis, MO

Nearest airportSTL — St. Louis Lambert
TransportGetting to Great Forest Park Balloon Race works best when arrival and return routes are decided before the busiest part of the day.
Stay areaFor peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of St. Louis.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to St. Louis via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near St. Louis, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for September.Compare faresFestival gearLight layers appropriate for a September evening in St. Louis, since daytime warmth can give way to cooler temperatures once the sun sets and balloons launch. Comfortable shoes for walking and standing on park grass are recommended, along with sun protection for the earlier portion of the event.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Great Forest Park Balloon Race?

Great Forest Park Balloon Race is listed for September · Autumn. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Great Forest Park Balloon Race take place?

The festival is listed in St. Louis, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Autumn is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

St. Louis, MO

How big is it?

Large: 130000

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLgreatforestparkballoonrace.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually September
Source statusOfficial source linked
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