One of the fun challenges this time of year in Kentuckiana is the weather. It’s pretty unpredictable. Temperatures can run from 40’s or lower one day and easily slip into the 90’s a day later. You can get hours of rain or scattered thunderstorms that last for few minutes. This makes running a hot-air balloon event challenging.

In the early days of the Kentucky Derby Festival it was one race. If weather messed you up in the morning, try again in the evening or try the next day. But now the Great Balloon Fest spans three days with both morning and evening events scheduled, hopefully the pilots can get in some of the events. Today, the weather held off and the Great Balloon Rush-Hour Race lifted off from Bowman Field on time to gray skies and a moody sunrise busting through the layered clouds.

The US Bank hare balloon piloted by Scott McClinton, took off drifting towards downtown Louisville, while the other balloons were still inflating their canopies . Then one-by-one each of the chase balloons lifted off towards the solid gray skies headed toward southern Indiana. A reasonably large crowd, young and old gathered to watch the race. Once the balloons disappeared into the sky, everyone headed to school or work. After all, it was “Rush Hour”.