HISTORY OF THE EVENT

Adam Matthews Foundation lifts Balloon Festival to new Heights!

In 1999 the Adam Matthews Foundation, lead by Adam Burckle, founded and launched the first Adam Matthews Balloon Festival. On that last weekend in September of 1999, 52 hot air balloons gathered at Bowman Field to take place in a historical moment. The festival became a part of Kentucky's aviation legacy on that beautiful crisp fall weekend in September.

Bowman Field, the oldest continually operating airport in the United States, gave flight to a new type of air show as the home of the event. People from throughout Louisville, Kentucky and Indiana came to watch and be a part of this historical moment. With one glow and two races the Festival brought back to Bowman an air show to compliment its historical past. This air show was filled with flights of fancy and glowed in the twilight hours to the fancy of young and old.

Since this first launch in 1999 the Balloon Festival has grown from 52 balloons to 100 balloons and maintains a national ranking in the top 5 in the United States as well as a world ranking too. Now over 100,000 people see this event and watch the sky set aglow with colors, shapes and dreams! Balloons come from throughout the United States and other continents to participate in this great air show!

Like a child that has grown to the pride of its parents, Adam Burckle and the Adam Matthews Foundation realized the Balloon Festival was ready to become a larger event for our community to enjoy and share our Louisville pride. Therefore, the Adam Matthews Foundation did what it does best. In a monumental transaction, it sold the Balloon Festival for $1 to a great Foundation created soley to nurture, run and grow this wonderful festival. The Adam Matthews Foundation is proud to give flight to this wonderful Festival and life to its future by not indebting it. The future is bright, the sky is filled with color and the nights will glimmer with emotions and sights. Young and old will find these as fond memories for generations to come.

The new Foundation, The Spirit of Kentucky Foundation, created solely for the Balloon Festival is jointly run and organized by Joni Collins, Chad Collins and Jane Pfeiffer. Together with sponsors they will lift the Balloon Festival further than before!

Celebrate with us this September 28, 29 and 30, 2007 as we continue our partcipation in this wonderful event, though this time like a proud parent!

Festival Timeline

1999: First year with 52 balloons

2000: Second year featuring 70 balloons from across the United States

2001: In 2001, due to the tragic events of September 11, flight at the festival was in doubt. Due to the petitioning of the festival, the National Safety Council and the FAA decided to allow the flight of hot air balloons two days prior to what was suppose to be the opening of the festival. Approximately 75 balloons attended making this the largest balloon festival held in Kentucky's history. Over $20,000 was given in prize money! Pilots came from as far away as Canada and the western United States.

2002: Eighty five registered balloons, WHAS11 prime time television feature presentation of the Balloon Glow, Meijer sponsored Starship Concert, Dean's Milk races with over $27,500 in prize money. Pilots came from as far as New Zealand, Canada and the Western United States. Over $35,000 raised for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Louisville Zoo and the Crusade for Children.

2003: One hundred balloons participated with over $40,000 in prizes awarded, six hours of live TV coverage, and over 120,000 people attending over the three day event. Portions of the parking benefited the Crusade for Children, along with contributions to the Louisville Zoo and several other local non-profit groups.

2004: The field was limited to 90 Balloons, expanded children's activities as well as an addition of a beer garden and more to make this the largest festival yet. Money from the parking proceeds went to the restoration of the historic Louisville Clock.

2005: The field was limited to 90 balloons, yet over 100 balloons registered for the 2005 festival. There were two spectacular races and two fabulous glows. Attendance was record breaking, exceeding well over 100,000 people during the festival.

2006: 90 balloons kicked off the 8th year of the Festival on Friday morning with a beautiful flight. The weekend was filled with magnificent balloon activities and lots of family fun.

2007: Festival continutes, but renamed the Bluegrass Balloon Festival. Over 90 balloons registered . . . and growing!