Freedom Festival Announces New Location for 2019 Balloon Glow

The 2019 Balloon Glow, part of Cedar Rapids' annual Freedom Festival, is moving to The Sinclair Levee. The hugely popular family event was previously scheduled for the Cedar Rapids Country Club, but Freedom Festival and city officials determined it just wasn't feasible. According to a media release from the Freedom Festival,

Neighborhood residential streets surrounding the location are not well equipped to safely and efficiently accommodate the large crowds of over 20,000 expected to attend Balloon Glow.

The Sinclair Levee will be welcoming Balloon Glow for the second consecutive year. It was held there last August after the original June date at the Brucemore Mansion was rained out. Brucemore was a wonderful, longtime setting for Balloon Glow, but the event has outgrown the space.

The 2019 Balloon Glow is scheduled for Tuesday, June 25. The rain date is Thursday, June 27. A record number of hot air balloons will be at the event and nationally-acclaimed local artist Alisabeth Von Presley will perform live. Shuttle stops will be available from Kingston Stadium and downtown Cedar Rapids.

Admission to Balloon Glow is a Freedom Festival Button. They're five dollars and go on sale Memorial Day weekend at Hy-Vee Food Stores and Drugstores in the corridor, Casey's stores, and the U.S. Cellular Center box office.