Great Forest Park Balloon Race

St Louis has an amazing number of festivals and activities, almost all free, every weekend.  It’s hard to choose and they all sound so fun.  This year, we had to experience the Balloon Race.

We got there several hours early to find a parking space by the Art Museum.  Then, we walked a VERY long way through the park to where the balloons were taking off from.  Andrew promptly feel asleep and probably would have been content to sleep the whole time, but after many tries, we finally woke him up (I swear, that kid has slept though more culture than most kids ever see).

We picked up freebies and balloons at the booths and walked around and saw the Purina dog (we didn’t get to see the show because it was later).  We also picked up our Energizer bunny ears.

Then, we got to get close and see the balloons.  The boys were mostly interested (but I still don’t know if it was worth that walk …. many we won’t do it next year).  The favorites were the popcorn bag and also the Pepsi can one (which Andrew insists is coffee).

We took the long walk back, dropped the stroller off at the car, and went to the Art Museum.  We saw a few works of art, but mostly went to the bathroom, got a drink, and cooled off in the AC.  Then, we met up with some members of WUSPA (Washington University Spouses of Professionals Association ?? maybe) right by there to watch the action.  There was about 2 hours before the balloons started (well, till when they actually started, since they got off late), but the boys had tons of fun, running up and down the hill with the other kids and playing ball.  We were so worn out just chasing them!  If you can’t tell, this is ONE big hill.

Finally, we saw the Energizer bunny balloon peeking its ears over the trees!  This is the lead balloon.  I think it drops something and everyone else tries to drop a bag closest, or something like that.

But then the bunny got stuck in the trees right close to us.  Which was sort of anticlimatic (there wasn’t so much wind, so it wasn’t unexpected, I guess).  But it was good, in a way, since then all the balloons stopped close by.

We were SO worn out after many hours of being outside.  We went out for a little dinner and then home.  A fun evening.  Hopefully, better wind next year!