News
Ride Metro to the 45th Annual Great Forest Park Balloon Race and Balloon Glow on September 15 and 16
Metro is an easy and convenient way to enjoy all of the fun and excitement next week as thousands of visitors head to Forest Park for the Great Forest Park Balloon Race and Balloon Glow on Friday, September 15, and Saturday, September 16. Those planning to attend the annual event can park at any one of 21 free Metro Park-Ride lots in Missouri and Illinois, and ride MetroLink or MetroBus to get to the festivities – and avoid heavy traffic, parking hassles and road closures.
Balloon Glow – Friday, September 15
Metro will operate additional MetroLink trains as needed during the evening on Friday, September 15, to accommodate the large crowds anticipated for this year’s Balloon Glow on Art Hill in Forest Park. The Balloon Glow is scheduled from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., with fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
Spectators headed to the Balloon Glow can ride MetroLink to the Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink Station or the Skinker MetroLink Station, and then walk to the event grounds on Art Hill. Both stations are located about a half-mile from the Balloon Glow.
Park visitors can also use MetroBus to connect with these two stations. The #1 Gold and #90 Hampton MetroBus routes serve the Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink Station, and the #1 Gold, #2 Red, #16 City Limits and Green Line MetroBus routes serve the Skinker MetroLink Station.
The #90 Hampton MetroBus route will be operating on a reroute during the Balloon Glow and Balloon Race, and will not serve destinations within Forest Park. Metro will NOT be operating special bus shuttle service to or from the balloon glow event.
Great Forest Park Balloon Race – Saturday, September 16
The Great Forest Park Balloon Race begins at noon on Saturday, September 16, on Art Hill in Forest Park. Spectators headed to the event can ride MetroLink or MetroBus to the Forest Park-DeBaliviere or Skinker MetroLink Stations, and walk to the race grounds. Metro will NOT be operating special bus shuttle service to or from the balloon race event.
To plan your trip to the Annual Great Forest Park Balloon Race or Balloon Glow on Metro, download the Metro On The Go app to your mobile device, visit metrostlouis.org to use the online TripPlanner or access transit schedules, or contact Metro Transit Information at 314-231-2345 or 618-271-2345, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
About Metro
Metro is the operator of the St. Louis region’s public transportation system, which includes the 87 vehicle, 46-mile MetroLink light rail system; approximately 400 vehicle MetroBus fleet that operates on 84 MetroBus routes in Missouri and Illinois; and Metro Call‑A‑Ride, a paratransit fleet of 122 vans. Metro is an enterprise of Bi-State Development (BSD), which also owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport, the Bi-State Development Research Institute, the Gateway Arch Riverboats, and operates the Gateway Arch Trams and Revenue Collections Center. BSD also operates the St. Louis Regional Freightway.