For many years, local pilots gathered to give back to the community by holding a year-end balloon glow at Bowman Field. When the local event was canceled due to the lack of funds, Adam Burckle, the founder of the Adam Matthews Cheesecake Company, came up with an idea that led to the festival. The first year event was held with 52 balloons in attendance. Many balloons were local, although some pilo
ts traveled from far across the United States. The initial event raised $20,000 for the Dream Factory, an organization that helps grant wishes to children with life-threatening diseases. The second annual event was held in 2000 with 70 balloons from across the country. The event became so popular that the entry was limited to 70 balloons and there was a waiting list. In 2007 the Adam Matthews Balloon Festival was purchased by the Spirit of Kentucky Foundation for $1, and the event was renamed to Bluegrass Balloon Festival. After a cancellation in 2010 the Spirit of Kentucky Foundation contracted with Pallas Partners to manage the Festival going forward. To coincide with this fresh start, the name was again changed to Spirit of Kentucky Balloon Festival in anticipation of its 2011 return. It continues to be the largest ballooning event in Kentucky and the fifth largest in the United States. The Spirit of Kentucky Foundation has built upon the charitable nature of the event to create a celebration that showcases the wonderful qualities of our great Kentucky home.
