Balloon glows, competitions, music, family take center stage

The Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission is set to host the U.S. Team Nationals Hot Air Balloon Championship, June 9-13, and the CenterPoint Energy presented by the Louisiana Office of Tourism, June 11-12 on the campus of LSU Shreveport.

The event will feature the U.S. Team Nationals Hot Air Balloon Championship with 30 of the best balloon pilots in the country competing against each other every morning starting at approximately 6:45–8:30 a.m., weather permitting. The competition will begin Wednesday, June 9, and finish Saturday, June 12. Every morning the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission team will give an update on the Red River Balloon Rally’s Facebook page at 6 a.m. to announce if the flights are happening, where you can see them, and what competition they will be doing. For a full list of possible competitions, the pilots and hot air balloons competing, please visit the Red River Balloon Rally website.

The 2021 CenterPoint Energy Red River Balloon Rally is a one-of-a-kind festival that will include balloon glows, live Christian, country and rock bands, fireworks show, tethered balloon rides, kids’ fun zone, professional kite flying exhibition, a photo booth from the Louisiana Office of Tourism, food and craft vendors, including Bossier City Farmers’ Market, and much more.

Friday is Faith and Family Night, presented by First Bossier with performances by Danny Gokey, First Bossier Worship Band and YALA. Saturday is Louisiana Saturday Night presented by ERS CAT with a music line-up that includes an ‘80s music experience with The Molly Ringwalds, local country band After Midtown, and Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs. This year four special shape balloons will help light up the sky featuring: Rocky the Flying Squirrel, Bullwinkle, Raccoon and the Cowboy.

Tickets can be purchased online at https://redriverballoonrally.com/tickets/, or discounted tickets can be purchased at local Brookshire’s/Super 1 Foods from May 13- June 12. Tickets will not be sold at the gate. Parking is free this year, thanks to A Brighter Smile Dental Care for sponsoring the parking lots. For a complete schedule of Red River Balloon Rally events and to purchase tickets, visit www.RedRiverBalloonRally.com or Red River Balloon Rally Facebook page.

This year, in addition to the hot air balloons, we will have a professional kite flying exhibition, including sport competition kites and inflatable LED kites. Kites of all sizes and shapes will be flying in the balloon glow field starting at 5 p.m.; you won’t want to miss it!

Adding to the fun, Carter Federal Credit Union is hosting a special shapes balloon at their Ellerbe Road location starting at 6 a.m. on Friday, June 11. Stop by for donuts, coffee and a chance to see a hot air balloon up close before the festival. You will also have the chance to see hot air balloons at CenterPoint Energy’s Excavator Day at LSU Shreveport’s campus on June 11 from 7:30–9 a.m. All excavators are welcome, breakfast and door prizes will be provided, and it’s free.

Sponsors of the CenterPoint Energy Red River Balloon Rally presented by the Louisiana Office of Tourism include the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau, LSU Shreveport, First Bossier, Margaritaville, Shreveport Coca-Cola, Coor’s Light, KSLA Channel 12, Cumulus Media, TeamLogic IT, Stuart’s Integrated Services, Red River Bank, LSUS Foundation, AEP SWEPCO and CAT Energy Rental Solutions.

For more information on sporting events in Shreveport-Bossier, visit www. shreveportbossiersports.com. For information on things to do and see in Shreveport-Bossier: Louisiana’s Other Side, including area hotel and restaurant listings, visit www.shreveportbossier.org and www.sbfunguide.com, or call (800) 551-8682.