Great American Balloon Race

The countdown to lift-off is nearly upon us, the Great American Air Balloon Race in good ol’ Danville, Kentucky is just around the corner.

The 22nd annual spectacular has become a great family day out, with people of all ages flocking to Junction City to watch the bright blue June skies fill up with the multi-hewn balls of fabric and hot air. It’s like a rainbow, albeit  in dots.

Families from across the state flock to Danville, near Harrodsburg, for the race, which celebrates all things ballooning, historically man’s first successful attempt to fly. It started in Paris, in 1783, with two men flying 5.5miles for 23 minutes before plunging safely down to Earth.

We don’t know where “le ballon” touched down but the Danville enthusiasts seek to emulate the landing, albeit in a more modern, much more controlled, and safer way.

The event – on June 10 this year – is not so much a race as a test of aeronautics and navigation, the balloon pilots testing their guile against wind and air pressure to land their flimsy, lightweight craft within 200 yards of the set landing target, with the closest balloon scooping the $1,000 prize.

It’s a tricky task, some years there have been no winners at all, the weather conditions making it too difficult for any of the 20 or so balloon pilots to get anywhere near the mark.

The field opens at 5pm, with a brass band playing in the crowd and food vendors opening for snacks and refreshment. At 6.30pm the pilots gather at the VIP hangar and by 7pm the fist balloons take off. Ninety minutes later the winner is awarded.

Why so late in the day? Apparently ballooning is best at sunrise or sunset, all due to the prevailing thermals and wind.

If you can’t make the June 10 event, try the all-year round balloon ride specialists at  louisvilleballoonrides.com, offering unforgettable aerial views of Kentucky in the heart of the bluegrass country. Or if you plan to visit Louisville in spring for the fabled Kentucky Derby, check out the Derby race in the sky, the Derby Festival Great Balloon Race. Or if you visit in deep summer, venture to Lexington’s 15th Annual Rotary BB&T Fourth of July Balloon Rally.