NextStop Blog

UPDATE (as of Sept. 17): The Great Forest Park Balloon Race and The Balloon Glow are canceled due to wet field conditions.

The annual Great Forest Park Balloon Race and Balloon Glow is happening this weekend, and like previous years, it’s sure to attract tens of thousands of people to Forest Park. Luck for you, Metro is the convenient way to get to all of the fun and excitement.

Those planning to go to the balloon events can park at any one of 21 free Metro Park-Ride lots in Missouri and Illinois, and take MetroLink or MetroBus to get to the festivities while avoiding heavy traffic, parking issues and road closures.

Balloon Glow – Friday, Sept. 16

Metro will operate additional MetroLink trains as needed during the evening on Friday, Sept. 16, to accommodate the large crowds anticipated for this year’s Balloon Glow at Central Field in Forest Park. The Balloon Glow is scheduled from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., with fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

You can take MetroLink to the Central West End MetroLink Station to get to the Balloon Glow. From there, walk north on Euclid and then west on Children’s Place, crossing Kingshighway into Forest Park to Central Field. Another option is to ride MetroLink to the Forest Park-DeBaliviere Station, then walk south on DeBaliviere toward the Missouri History Museum and then east past the Visitors Center toward the Muny to Central Field. Both MetroLink stations are about one mile from Central Field.

You 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, #10 Gravois-Lindell, #13 Union, #14 Botanical Garden, #18 Taylor, #42 Sarah, #59 Dogtown, #80 Park Shaw, and #95 Kingshighway MetroBus routes serve the Central West End MetroLink Station. Note: Metro will not be operating special bus shuttle service to or from the balloon glow event.

Great Forest Park Balloon Race – Saturday, Sept. 17

The Great Forest Park Balloon Race is scheduled from noon to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, at Central Field in Forest Park. Ride MetroLink or MetroBus to the Central West End or Forest Park-DeBaliviere Stations and walk to the race grounds at Central Field. Note: Metro will not be operating special bus shuttle service to or from the balloon glow event.

To plan your trip to the 44^th 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, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.