The fifth annual CenterPoint Energy Red River Balloon Rally, presented by the Louisiana Office of Tourism, converted their popular summer festival event into a safe, picturesque overflight for the Shreveport-Bossier community to enjoy from the comfort of their homes or the seat of their cars, June 12-13. The overflight edition of the Balloon Rally will consisted of nearly 12 local and regional balloons sailing over various neighborhoods in the Shreveport-Bossier area.

“I remember reintroducing the Balloon Rally five years ago, and the community was overjoyed with the balloons coloring the sky. Although COVID-19 hijacked many of our spring and summer plans, our team and sponsors thought it would be best to offer our community a cheery sense of ‘feel good,’” said Kelly Wells, executive director of Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission. “This overflight gives us all an opportunity to look into the sky and see brighter days ahead as we plan for 2021.”

Although the winds were the ultimate deciding factors of the final flight routes, the pilots took off from various locations with the intention to soar across downtown Shreveport and central Bossier City.

The Balloon Rally overflight launched in three waves June 12-13: Friday evening, Saturday morning, and Saturday afternoon. Friday, June 12 at 6 p.m. In lieu of the annual Balloons over DeSoto event, spectators caught another wave of balloons in DeSoto Parish, which is a 45-minute drive south of Shreveport-Bossier.

“We are proud to continue our support of this great community event, and we’re confident that it will come back even bigger and better next year,” said Eric Barkley, district director of CenterPoint Energy.

“In the meantime, we hope seeing the beautiful balloons flying over our area will bring some joy during these challenging times. It also gives us a chance to remind everyone to call 811 to have underground utility lines located before you dig.”
The COVID-19 pandemic created a significant disruption in the fifth annual CenterPoint Energy Red River Balloon Rally plans, but the following event sponsors continue to support the Shreveport-Bossier community with an overflight during these unconventional times: CenterPoint Energy, Louisiana Office of Tourism, Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau, Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, KTAL 6, Alpha Media, O’Neal Gas, Coca-Cola, Glazers, Caddo Commissioner John E. Atkins, Heard McElroy and Vestall, and Red River Bank.

For more photos of the overflight edition of the 2020 CenterPoint Energy Red River Balloon Rally, visit the Red River Balloon Rally Facebook page.