The Red River Balloon Rally celebrates ten years of community wonder
Ten years ago, Shreveport-Bossier opened its famously vast Louisiana skyways to dozens of the country’s top hot-air balloon pilots for the annual U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship. For a week in the middle of that sweltering summer, folks across the region found themselves peering heavenward, hoping for a bright, whimsical glimpse of color.
From above, pilot Pat Harwell was in his element—looking out over the sprawling Shreveport-Bossier landscape, when he noticed a school out on a rural road. From it, he could see a stream of children pouring out the door, like ants. He told his crew, “Let’s drop down right here.”
After landing on the lawn, waving like a fanciful master of the skies, Harwell and his team spent the next hour taking the kids up on tethered rides. At one point, one of them quietly told his wife, Susan, “We’ve been saying prayers every day that a balloon would land here.”
“It’s moments like that,” Harwell said, recounting the memory, “… well, you can’t ask me why we fly.”
That summer launched a new tradition in Shreveport-Bossier, the Red River Balloon Rally, which today draws tens of thousands of attendees together around the wonder of humankind’s oldest access to the skies. Following the 2016 U.S. Nationals, the city became a host of the Louisiana State Ballooning Championships—which draws more than twenty elite pilots each year as they compete for national qualification.
To celebrate the magnificent showcase, the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission along with Visit Shreveport-Bossier, hosts three days (this year, held July 10–11) of unforgettable family-friendly festivities at Louisiana Downs Casino & Racetrack, now the event’s long-term home. For visitors, the experience blends aviation spectacle with classic festival fare: early-morning launches, evening balloon glows, live music performances, a farmer’s market, tethered rides, and a grand fireworks show on Saturday night.
David Bradley, Vice President of Business Development at Visit Shreveport-Bossier, said that the festival’s tenth anniversary this year is a testament to the longstanding, remarkable collaboration between organizers, pilots, and the community. “If you don’t have that kind of dedication and buy-in, you don’t get ten years out of an event like this,” he said. Over the years, the Rally has grown alongside the city itself, settling into a venue that offers top-tier amenities for both visitors and pilots.
Such attention to detail matters. According to Harwell, experienced balloon pilots are increasingly rare, and the events that treat them well quickly earn a reputation. “The Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission is trusted,” he said. “The team makes sure everyone has a great experience, and that they are as safe as possible.”
The Harwell’s have been piloting hot air balloons since 1991, when Susan joined a flight crew on a whim and fell in love with the sport. Within a week of her first ride, she and Pat had purchased their own balloon, setting Susan on a path to become the first female balloon pilot in North Louisiana. Now, more than thirty years later, she and Pat have raised their family in the ballooning community and continue to share the magic across the South.
“It’s the freest experience I’ve ever had,” said Pat. “You’ve got 360-degree visibility, can see for twenty, thirty miles. I just fell in love with it and love the chance to share that.”
That generosity of spirit is a common one among balloon pilots, said Pat, and it’s a defining feature felt by visitors of the Red River Balloon Rally—who are treated to the unforgettable experience of collective awe, watching either from the ground or while rising gently into the sky.
Celebrating the sport they love with their hometown has become a highlight of the year for the Harwell’s, and they’ve enjoyed drawing other pilots into the fold. “I can’t say thank you enough to the Sports Commission for making this happen for our community,” said Pat. “This is not done to make money; it’s really done to bring something wonderful to the people of Shreveport. It takes a lot of work to make happen, and it’s so good for the city, it really is.”
The Rally’s tenth anniversary celebration on July 10–11, 2026 aligns with Shreveport-Bossier’s broader plans commemorating America’s 250th birthday, making this year an especially meaningful time to visit. Stay up to date on upcoming festivals and events at visitshreveportbossier.org.
Courtesy of Country Roads Magazine. February, 2026.
