Missouriland

Photos by THEO WELLING

Words by ROSALIND EARLY

Fall can’t start until after the Great Forest Park Balloon Race, which turned 50 this year. On Friday, all of the hot air balloons parked on Emerson Central Fields in Forest Park and, at dusk, fired up their burners, causing them to glow. People picnicked and partied, with live music, food trucks and a special show from the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team. The whole evening was capped off with fireworks

The following afternoon, the balloons all gathered on Central Field where people could get an upclose look for a few hours before the race. A “hare” balloon set off at 4:30 p.m. and the “hound” balloons followed, filling much of the sky over St. Louis with languidly gliding color into the evening. n

A CELEBRATION OF THE UNIQUE AND FASCINATING ASPECTS OF OUR HOME[ ]