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The Bunny crew came to the assistance of the J KEM Scientific crew as they struggled with gusty winds while trying to inflate their balloon for the Great Forest Park Balloon Race on Central Fields in Forest Park. Amber Conway, age 8, holds Chi Chi tight as she looks through binoculars to see members of the skydiving team make their landing on Central Fields. Great Forest Park Balloon Race Becomes a Great Family Picnic in the Park by Betty Moore, SLFP.com St. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), September 16, 2006 - The setting in Forest Park for a family picnic on Saturday afternoon, September 15, was just about perfect with temperatures in the eighties, bright blue skies and strong breezes to keep the flies away. Under nearly every tree around Central Fields near the Jewel Box, blankets and picnic tables were spread with enough food and refreshments to keep hungry kids satisfied for hours waiting for the big event. The 34th Annual Great Forest Park Balloon Race has grown over the years to become one of St. Louis' most popular sporting event with thousands of spectators and their pets watching seventy colorful hot air balloons take to the skies in pursuit of the Energizer Bunny® Hot "Hare" Balloon leading the classic hare-hound chase. The festivities have also grown with more children's activities including the Purina/Alpo Children's Entertainment Area, the Pro Plan Rally across America Pet Adoption Tour, pony rides, a climbing wall, interactive inflatables by Sixty-Two Sports, games and crafts by the Magic House, and live music performances. Festival-goers waited patiently in long lines for festival favorites like funnel cakes, BBQ sandwiches, popcorn, cottoncandy and anything cold to drink in the food court area. Near the children's entertainment area, over 20,000 bottles of Gold Peak, a new premium ice tea from Coca-Cola, were handed out as free samples. "It tastes very close to home-brew," stated Samatha Findley, area manger for Gold Peak. She added that it was being rolled out nationwide and could be found locally at Dierbergs and Schnucks. Throughout the afternoon, balloon pilots and their crew also waited in anticipation of the liftoff at 4:45 p.m. With winds gusting at 12 - 15 mph, there was speculation that many of the larger balloons would not fly. Purina balloon pilot Ginger Delaney, who has been flying since 1989, said that she normally wouldn't launch with winds over 10 knots. "Right now, the winds are probably closer to 15. If it's a steady wind, you might launch, but when it's gusting, it's more difficult to deal with flying up there with these big sails." Dalaney, who traveled from her home town of Denver, CO, said it was a big disappointment not to be able to fly. "St. Louis is such a great place to fly if the weather is right. I don't have a good feeling about today. And, I didn't get to be this old by making stupid mistakes," she laughed. Shortly after 4:30, the announcement came over the speaker that the Energizer Bunny, would not be lifting off due to high winds. The pink bunny ballooon, piloted by Glo Kehoe, with its signature blue sandals is 15 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty, weighs 1,170 lbs., and is powered by double burners that keep it flying with the force of 30 million BTUs. The announcer added that the KMOV balloon, piloted by Joe Ream, Champaign, IL, would be substituting as the hare for the race. The crowd cheered enthusiastically as Ream's crew, assisted by many the Bunny crew members, worked to inflate the balloon for takeoff. The race was on. See related story and pictures: The Great Forest Park Balloon Glow 2006. The 35th Great Forest Park Balloon Race festivities are scheduled for September 14 - 16, 2007 in Forest Park. The crowd cheered enthusiastically as pilot Joe Ream and his crew, assisted by Bunny crew members, worked to inflate the KMOV balloon, which was substituting as the "Hare" for the Great Forest Park Balloon Race. The "Great Rat" crew members are silhouetted against the balloon as it begins to inflate. Hot air balloons lifted off the ground quickly in the brisk winds. Crews struggled with high winds which made it difficult to inflate the balloons. Kids watched in anticipation as balloon crews prepared the hot air balloons for the race. Festival-goers waited patiently in long lines for favorites like funnel cakes, hot dogs, corn dogs, BBQ sandwiches, popcorn, cotton candy and anything cold to drink in the food court area. Janis Beerman, St. Charles, watches Kelly Tracy paint a butterfly on Mattie, age 3, as her sisters, Elizabeth and Riley wait their turn. Mrs Kalous, Shiloh, IL, watched her daughter, Brook, age 6, quickly climb the rock after waiting over an hour and a half in line. Under nearly every tree around Central Fields near the Jewel Box, blankets and picnic tables were spread with enough food and refreshments to keep hungry kids satisfied for hours while waiting for the hot air balloons to lift off Central Fields in Forest Park for the Great Forest Park Balloon Race. The Saint Louis Front Page is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Saint Louis area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 1996 - 2008 Moore Design Group .

One click from your destination. Point your PDA to www.hotels-stl.com/mobile For people on the go, point your PDA to www.diningstl.com/mobile See the Energizer Bunny lift off at the 31st Annual Great Forest Park Balloon Race (2003). Quicktime Video, (28K/DSL)