ST. LOUIS, MO –  I’ve only been near hot air balloons once. For starters, it was four years ago. My family and I woke up early to drive to a nondescript corner of Kissimmee, Florida. Certainly, I had no idea what to imagine. Nevertheless, we would see the flat structure grow in air. How incredible! The joy coming across my smile was unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. I never did get to do good on my promise to go to be an astronaut. But this was a close second.

Therefore, I can only imagine this was the consensus in St. Louis. Seeming how the Great Forest Park Balloon Race was canned this year, it only makes sense for the organizers and sponsors to “Lift Up St. Louis” regardless.

How, exactly? Likely, through hot air balloons showing honor towards essential workers. Janitors, teachers, healthcare professionals were among those respected from September 17th to the 20th.

To contribute was maybe the simplest delight of all. When anyone would post a photo alongside the inspiration in their lives, a captioned hashtag would confirm a twenty-five dollar donation to the Urban League. This is all courtesy of PNC Bank, who had a hand in coining #LiftUpSTL.

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As you can tell, it was a heavily enjoyed event.

As previously thought, the festival will come back to Central Fields next year. The balloons racing at Forest Park are part of the longest-running festival in the Midwest. The yearly tradition actually goes on for two whole days. The event has been making families grin for nearly 47 years.

With all the frustration that 2020 has given Americans, light-hearted fun is welcome. With any sort of weight. Similar to the opening from The Great Muppet Caper.