The Great Forest Park Balloon Glow

Great Forest Park Balloon Glow 2006
in St. Louis

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The Great Forest Park Balloon Glow drew thousands of spectators hoping to catch the balloons lighting up the night in Forest Park creating a picture perfect opportunity for many with digital cameras, videos and even cell phones.

The Great Forest Park Balloon Glow Lights Up
the Night Over Forest Park
by Betty Moore, SLFP.com
St. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), September 15, 2006 - A slight breeze rippled over the reflection pond at Government Hill beneath the World's Fair Pavilion, Friday evening, September 15, as thousands of families, friends and visitors descended on Forest Park for the annual Great Forest Park Balloon Glow.

Every available space was filled with tables, chairs and blankets set up for a family picnic in the park. Young families pushing strollers, kids laughing and playing, vendors selling souvenirs and dogs barking created a festive atmosphere for an evening of family fun watching the glow.

As the sky grew darker, pilots and their crew carefully unfolded their balloons and set up the gondolas while balloon enthusiasts crowded around to take pictures of the activity. For many, it was a perfect opportunity to talk with the pilots about the sport.

A loud cheer arose from the huge crowd as the Energizer Bunny began to take shape. Slowly the giant sandals appeared, followed by the famous 60-foot-high ears lifting off the grass. Within a few minutes, other balloons began inflating. Wind gusts caused several balloons to touch and fall back to the ground to the delight of onlookers.

Shortly after 7:30 p.m., the air horns blew as the signal for the pilots to fire their burners in unison to light their balloons. The tremendous heat from the flames caught many onlookers by surprise as they quickly retreated to a cooler spot to watch.

For the next hour and a half, each time the air horns blew, flames would shoot into the huge hot air balloons creating a mesmerizing glow against the dark sky. And, each time the balloons were lit, people with digital cameras and even cell phones tried to capture the action before the balloons went dark.

The event precluded the annual Great Forest Park Balloon Race, Saturday, September 16, on Central Fields in Forest Park. See related story and pictures: The Great Forest Park Balloon Race 2006.

The crowd cheered loudly as the hot air balloons began rising into the early evening sky.

Colorful balloons were reflected in the pond at Government Hill beneath the World's Fair Pavilion.

As the sky grew darker, pilots and their crew carefully unfolded their balloons and set up the gondolas while balloon enthusiasts crowded around to take pictures of the activity.

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