NH Chamber Ramps Up For Pepsi Balloon Race

Chamber President Rachel Terbrock and the rest of the assembled chamber members at the Old New Haven School House went over the respective committees’ reports on the details leading up to the hot air balloon race. The last Pepsi Balloon Race occurred in 2018, with weather cancelling the 2019 race and 2020 cancelled by COVID. This year’s Balloon Glow will happen on Friday, September 24 and will be started by a parade led by the New Haven Marching Band across the new bridge and into the park with the balloons.

Staging the marching band on Friday is a departure from the previous tradition of a Saturday afternoon parade crossing Highway 100. The Saturday parade caused some stress on the band in past years, who would have to make it back to New Haven in time after competing in the Sullivan Band Competition.

Changing the days also results in not shutting down HWY 100 to assist the parade participants cross the highway in the middle of the day.

Saturday, September 25, the weather will hopefully cooperate and allow the FAA to approve the balloon race which usually occurs between 3 and 5 p.m.

The race has historically involved many of the racers who raced in the big St. Louis Balloon race the weekend before. About 50 balloons have launched in previous years to put on a very picturesque race.

The balloonists also love racing in our rural area where they are less likely to encounter power lines and highways and big buildings. When they land on a farmer’s property, they are prepared with a bottle of champagne to reward the property owner for allowing the inconvenience of their landing.