Great Forest Park Balloon Race
great forest park balloon race annual hot air balloon festival held forest park st louis missouri entrant spectator wellattended singleday hot air balloon race united state first race launched nikki caplan john otoole december gathering six balloon twenty spectator organization race passed caplan otoole group four novice balloonist continue coordinate event today men john marlow john schaumburg ted staley dan schettler formed ballooning group known mississippi river balloon transit company company host largest well attended balloon race may race honored american folklife center library congress local legacy nomination thenminority leader united state house representative dick gephardt great forest park balloon race forever documented photograph advertisement medium pilot reward race held day race hot air balloon participate balloon glow night glow opportunity spectator walk among inflated balloon illuminated burner addition balloon glow firework show week event free public orchestral concert saint louis symphony orchestra held nearby art hill adjacent saint louis art museum race balloonist attempt chase foot balloon pink bunny taking central field forest park goal follow bunny land pilot drop sandbag birdseed bag close possible bunny balloon winner decided based pilot sandbag birdseed bag closest bunny due urban location city st louis race considered particularly prestigious challenging participation invitation time landing site included backyard baseball diamond golf course street intersection convent ground school sister notre dame balloon race accompanied festival includes food drink inflatable castle climbing wall flickr group great forest park balloon race