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Weather Cancels Derby Festival Balloon Glow as Reports Conflict on Saturday Race

Safety rules in ballooning trigger rapid updates when wind, rain or low clouds develop.

Overview

  • Kentucky Derby Festival canceled the Great Balloon Glow because of heavy rain, according to spokesperson Aimee Boyd.
  • Organizers had earlier shifted the glow to a burner-only Candlestick Glow set for 8:30 to 9 p.m., then scrapped that plan when conditions worsened.
  • WLKY reported the Great Balloon Race was canceled due to dense fog and a low cloud ceiling, and the station said it would not be rescheduled.
  • That report contradicted an earlier KDF release that said weather was not expected to affect the race planned to launch from Bowman Field.
  • Hot-air balloons require light winds, no rain, and safe cloud ceilings, so final go or no-go calls often come minutes before start time and can upend spectator plans.