Balloon Capital of Texas Hosts Two Big Races

The world-class Great Texas Balloon Race & Festival (GTBR) returns to the Longview Convention Complex Friday, June 16, to Sunday, June 18. A special addition this year is the U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship beginning at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, June 12.

The national championship race continues through the end of the week and is held concurrently with GTBR on June 16, 17, and 18, as the two races combine and fly simultaneously over Longview and parts of Gregg County.

Launch and landing sites change each day and depend on weather conditions and prevailing winds. Safety for pilots, visitors, and rides for hire are not available at this competitive event.

Longview began hosting the race 45 years ago in 1978 — thanks to efforts of three founders — hot air balloon pilot Dr. Bill Bussey, DDS, and Longview Mall managers Parson Riggins and Mary LeTourneau. That year Dr. Bussey added a banner to his hot air balloon and flew it over the city to advertise the mall’s opening. Two years later the Longview Mall hosted the first hot air balloon glow in its parking lot and the races soon became one of the city’s traditions.

Longview was named the official “Balloon Capital of Texas” by Texas Governor Mark White in 1985. Gregg County also received the designation of “Balloon Race Capital of Texas” by the 83rd Texas Legislature.

GTBR’s Competitive balloon flights are scheduled for 6:45 a.m., Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 16 to 19, and are held alongside the national championship.

On Friday and Saturday GTBR features a Special Shapes static inflations show featuring novelty balloon designs at 7 a.m. and a Special Shapes Spectacular at 8:15 a.m. These balloons feature movie and cartoon characters such as Winnie the Pooh or Yoda from Star Wars. Balloon glows are also held each evening at 8:50 p.m.

Musical entertainment takes place Friday and Saturday afternoons with gates opening at 4 p.m. Texas-based Post Profit performs at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 16, and Joint Custody of Tyler headlines at 9:30 p.m. Singer/songwriter and Oklahoma native Jon Wolfe headlines at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, preceded by Jake Worthington at 6:30 p.m.

For information visit www.gtbr.net or call (903) 753-3281.