We love a good celebration in the Bluegrass State and if there is one event throughout the year where we really go all out, it’s the Kentucky Derby. While we think our state deserves the spotlight all year long, it actually gets it during this famous horse race, and the city of Louisville celebrates for weeks beforehand with the Kentucky Derby Festival. One of the most beloved events during this time is the Great BalloonFest. This hot air balloon festival in Kentucky features colorful and creative balloons that participate in events over three days, and it’s the perfect time to take your eyes to the skies of Kentucky.

In the weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby, the city of Louisville hosts the party of the year - the Kentucky Derby Festival.
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With daily events like a massive parade, races, fireworks, and so much more, it's a busy time in Kentucky's largest city. This year, a hot air balloon festival in Kentucky will again illuminate the skies with a balloon glimmer, glow, and races.
Great BalloonFest kicks off on April 23rd at 8:30 p.m. with the magical Great Balloon Glimmer.
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This event takes place along the river at Kroger's Fest-a-Ville. Join in the fun and festivities as balloons are given life with air and light.
The next morning, the Great Balloon Rush-Hour Race will take these balloons to the sky.
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This is when some of the best photos of this hot air balloon festival in Kentucky are taken. There's nothing more picturesque than a colorful balloon, glowing in the sunrise.

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Each balloon will be filled with air as they prepare to take flight.
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This event will take place at historic Bowman Field, but can of course be seen from many spots throughout the city. Be sure to look to the sky on the morning of April 24th.
You may be lucky enough to witness a sight as beautiful as this.
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That evening, head to the Kentucky Exposition Center for the Great Balloon Glow. Again these massive balloons will light up the night sky.
No matter which event you visit, you'll be treated to a wide array of colors, shapes, and themes.
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Hot air balloons beautifully decorate the sky, whether they stay tethered to the ground or take flight over Louisville.
The hot air balloon festival in Kentucky will wrap up Saturday morning with the Great Balloon Race from Bowman Field.
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Of course this is just one feature of the Kentucky Derby Festival. It is known as one of the best hot air balloon festivals in the country, and another highlight is Thunder Over Louisville, a fireworks display also called the best in our nation.

The Kentucky Derby Festival includes many worthy events that make Louisville the place to be in the spring leading up to the race itself. But we especially love Great BalloonFest, a hot air balloon festival in Kentucky when the skies illuminate with colorful and creative balloons. Do you attend Great BalloonFest each year? What’s your favorite part of the Kentucky Derby Festival? Let us know in the comments!

For more information on Great BalloonFest and the rest of the events, visit the festival’s website and follow along on Facebook.

And for more on why the Derby is so much more than a two minute horse race, check out our previous article on all of the festivities.

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