SHREVEPORT, La. — The Delta Utilities Red River Balloon Rally will return to the Louisiana Downs Casino & Racetrack this weekend.
The event runs Friday and Saturday, celebrating 10 years of family entertainment and hot air balloons in the Shreveport-Bossier area.
The Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission and Visit Shreveport-Bossier are hosting the milestone festival. New to the event this year is the Xfinity Drone Show, which will feature aerial icons inspired by North Louisiana.
Gates will be open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. both nights. Admission is $10 for ages 6 and older, while children 5 and under are free. Tickets are only available at the gate.
"We wanted to make the 10th anniversary truly unforgettable for local families," said Emma Boone, coordinator for the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission. "Bringing in the new drone show alongside our traditional balloon glows gives everyone something spectacular to look forward to in the night sky."
The festival grounds will feature live music on the SWEPCO Stage. That Girl DJ and Clay Logan will perform Friday. Rewind and Animals, a Maroon 5 tribute band, will take the stage Saturday.
Other attractions include a free kids zone, tethered balloon rides for $25, and shopping with Bossier City Farmers Market vendors. Nightly balloon glows begin at 8:15 p.m., followed by the drone show at 9:15 p.m. and a fireworks display at 9:45 p.m.
Delta Utilities returns as the title sponsor for the community tradition.
"Events like this bring families and neighbors together and showcase the unique spirit of Louisiana," said Sam Walters, director of Delta Utilities. Walters added that the company looks forward to a great weekend while sharing year-round safety information with attendees.
The festival also serves as a major tourism driver for the region.
"They create memorable experiences for families while generating meaningful economic impact for our hotels, restaurants, attractions, and local businesses," said Stacy Brown, president and CEO of Visit Shreveport-Bossier.
In addition to the evening festival, the event anchors the Louisiana State Ballooning Championship. 25 top pilots will compete on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. Pilots will race to drop bean bags onto targets to score points.
"The competitive flights are a beautiful sight for early risers," Boone said. "We have four former world champions competing this year, making it one of our most competitive fields yet."
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