Stay tuned for our special shape announcement for this year's Great Balloon Race!
The Great Balloon Race will be held at the Lake Storey Soccer Fields in Galesburg, IL on July 25-27th, 2025!
This will be the 25th annual event and we are hoping to host 25 pilots!
Please see the preliminary schedule of events below for more details:
THE GREAT BALLOON RACE
Tentative 2025 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Lake Storey Park, Galesburg, IL
(soccer fields - just west of baseball fields)
Friday, July 25th
4:00 PM until the beginning of the night glow - Food vendors will be set up and selling food by the shelter of the launch field. Event T-shirts and raffle tickets available for purchase.
5:00 -8:00 PM Children’s crafts will be available from the Galesburg Community Arts Center, ROE33 yard games, Relay For Life giant twister, Prairie Moon Farm train rides
6:00 PM - Mass ascension of the balloons, weather permitting.
8:30 PM - Balloon night glow, weather permitting.
Saturday, July 26th
5:30 AM Pilot briefing on the field at Lake Storey
6:00 AM - Balloon Launch - The balloons will launch from an undetermined location and fly into the launch field at Lake Storey to try and throw a beanbag at the target(s) located there.
4:00 PM until the beginning of the night glow - Food vendors will be set up and selling items from food by the shelter of the launch field. Event T-shirts and raffle tickets available for purchase.
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Children’s crafts will be available from the Galesburg Community Arts Center, Mobile Playground Truck, Touch a Truck, Prairie Moon Farm train rides, and other activities.
6:00 PM - Mass ascension of the balloons, weather permitting.
After the flight and before the Night Glow - Golf Ball Drop-tethered balloon over launch field with a “X” on the field and golf balls are numbered. Selling Golf Balls for $5.00 each and whatever # gets closest to the center of the X when dropped out of the basket wins the 50/50 raffle. Tickets are for sale on Friday and Saturday.
Tickets for sale $5.00 each for a chance to win a Family Fun Pack Raffle valued at over $600.
8:30 PM - Balloon night glow, weather permitting.
Sunday, July 27th - Note: Flight is Pilot optional
5:30 AM Pilot briefing on the field at Lake Storey
6:00 AM - Balloon Launch - The balloons will launch from an undetermined location and fly into the launch field at Lake Storey to try and throw a beanbag at the target(s) located there.
ALL EVENTS ARE FREE, TIMES ARE APPROXIMATE & WEATHER PERMITTING AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE!!!
Balloon rides at the event will be for sponsors only. Please help us thank our sponsors as they keep this a free, family event!
Also check out other Sports events in Galesburg, Arts events in Galesburg.
