Forest Park Balloon Race Program 2018

48 The Great Forest Park Balloon Race • Presented by PNC Bank and Marlow gather. …“Where’s Schaumburg … Ted, get over here … Is Marlow here? … Dan?” They stand together, arms on each other’s shoulders, for The Picture, a tradition for more than 40 years. Each year the Four take a moment to look at the spectators, the excitement and the anticipation as more than 60 balloons launch for the Great Forest Park Balloon Race. Each year, one of the four always says, “Where did all of this come from?” 43 For more than 36 years the Great Forest Park Balloon Race has been organized by John Marlow, Dan Schettler, Ted Staley and John Schaumburg (aka the Fab Four). In 2016, traditions continued but with the addition of a few new faces. The Race expanded from the original organizers to include new Partners, second generation balloonists Brian Schettler, John Schettler and their dear friend Nick Riggin - along with St. Louis businessmen John Nickel and Richard L. Nix, Jr. One thing is guaranteed - The Great Forest Park Balloon Race will be around for years to come and will always be a free event celebrating Family Traditions and Soft Landings with the people of St. Louis. 44 In 2017, while renovations take place on Central Fields, the Great Forest Park Balloon Race returned to Art Hill for the 45th annual event. Race historians remember when the balloons launched from the hillside only once before in 2004. The Balloon Glow made its Art Hill debut under the watchful gaze of King Louis IX. 45 The wind brought residents quite the surprise in 2017 when two of our Great Forest Park Balloon Racers landed at Marygrove! Children could be seen cheering with delight at the beautiful site and proved to have great fun helping the pilot and crew pack up the colorful balloon. A sweet bonus – pilots and race organizers were treated later with thank you notes and colorful drawings from the children thanking them for the memorable surprise. 46 In 2018, Race organizers were delighted by long- time friend and fireworks sponsor PNC Bank’s decision to ELEVATE (pun intended) their annual event sponsorship to become the new Presenting Sponsor of the Great Forest Park Balloon Race - helping to ensure the event remain free to attend and full of family fun. “At PNC, we believe it’s important to support long-standing traditions like the Great Forest Park Balloon Race, as these traditions are not only economic drivers for the region, but also continue to bring our community together year-over-year.” – Mike Scully, PNC Bank Regional President, Missouri 46 Facts Continued from page 47 KENNY CHESNEY’S PREMIUM CARIBBEAN RUMS