Bluegrass Balloon Festival
bluegrass balloon festival formerly called adam matthew balloon festival fifth largest hot air balloon festival united state largest state kentucky held annually late september bowman field louisville kentucky festival featured hot air balloon participating three early morning balloon race two evening balloon glow event included four live concert free childrens activity car show featuring classic exotic modified car also balloon education center teaching fundamental ballooning well food beer garden activity common crowd busiest day festival many event held three day one popular attraction evening balloon glow balloon inflated glow music dark another early morning balloon race cash prize winner adam matthew balloon festival celebrated last festival september festival purchased spirit kentucky foundation renamed bluegrass balloon festival many year local pilot gathered give back community holding yearend balloon glow bowman field local event canceled due lack fund adam burckle founder adam matthew cheesecake company came idea led festival first year event held balloon attendance many balloon local although pilot traveled far across united state initial event raised dream factory organization help grant wish child lifethreatening disease second annual event held balloon across country event became popular entry limited balloon waiting list event september attack new york city washington dc put doubt flight festival civil aviation flight including ballooning restricted period time attack festival petitioned national safety council faa allow flight hot air balloon approved two day festival approximately balloon attended event year making largest balloon festival held kentucky history event grown registered balloon whastv local television station louisville featured evening balloon glow prime time broadcast meijers sponsored starship concert dean milk sponsored balloon race prize money pilot travelled far away new zealand canada western u raised makeawish foundation louisville zoo crusade child festival grown registered balloon prize awarded also six hour live tv coverage people attended event three day portion parking fee benefited crusade child additional fund raised louisville zoo several local nonprofit group adam matthew balloon festival purchased spirit kentucky foundation event renamed bluegrass balloon festival continued largest ballooning event kentucky fifth largest united state festival cancelled various reason return new name spirit kentucky balloon festival cancelled well sign existence festival since time list attraction event louisville metropolitan area