LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The first of two Great Balloon Glow events lit up the Great Lawn at Waterfront Park in downtown Louisville on Thursday.

This year, the Kentucky Derby Festival is holding two balloon glows instead of one. 

The balloons stayed on the ground as pilots fired up their burners, illuminating Waterfront Park.

It's just one of the three days of balloon events in the city. KDF is hosting the L&N Federal Credit Union Great Balloonfest through Saturday. 

In addition to two balloon glows, there will be two balloon races this year.

The L&N Federal Credit Union Rush Hour Race will be held on Friday at Bowman Field starting at 7 a.m. The public entrance is off Pee Wee Reese Road. 

On Friday, another L&N Federal Credit Union Great Balloon Glow will be held at 8:30 p.m. People are encouraged to arrive early for dinner and the Parade of Balloons at 7:30 p.m. Balloons will be staged at 8 p.m., followed by a balloon glow broadcast at 9 p.m. A drone show will follow the balloon glow.

The Great Balloon Race will start on Saturday at 7 a.m. at Bowman Field. 

Admission is free to all the events with a 2024 Pegasus Pin.

Kroger's Fest-a-Ville also opened at Waterfront Park on Thursday. It runs through May 3 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 12-10 p.m. Sunday. It includes the Chow Wagon, a nightly drone show, two balloon glows, a Taylor Swift silent disco, drag shows, and much more. There will also be live music and a beer garden.

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