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the 9th year, the Derby had a permanent home as well on land provided by the Myron
Peacher family. The Missouri DNR returned as a co-sponsor as well, and by 1986 attendance reached a peak of 14,000 spectators. During this time period more activities were added to the weekend schedule such as a queen contest, dances for balloonists and spectators, and a craft festival. The 17th Great Pershing Balloon Derby was the first year in which the Sunday "Night Light" was added to the schedule of events.
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The 7th annual Great
Pershing Balloon Derby was nearly the last, as fundraising and sponsorship problems arose. However, in early 1984 a group of balloonists and concerned area citizens worked together to keep the event going and formed Green Hills Ballooning Inc. to take over the Derby. Beginning in
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between
Brookfield and Laclede. In recent years the number of participating balloons has stabilized at around forty-five. One highlight is the "South Main Night Flame", held in downtown Brookfield. Balloonists and their craft line the street for a night burn. In 2011 and 2012 the derby was selected
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and the
Pershing Memorial Development Association, it was held as a fundraiser for the Pershing Museum. The second year, and every thereafter, the derby was held over Labor Day weekend. By its third year the number of balloons participating nearly doubled to seventy. In years two through eight the
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130:. The Great Pershing Balloon Derby (GPBD) has been recognized as the longest running continually sanctioned ballooning event in the U.S. by the Balloon Federation of America.
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as site for the BFA North
Central Regional Championship. The balloon derby is held in conjunction with many other festivities in nearby Brookfield including
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at North
Central Missouri Regional Airport. Launches are generally at dusk and dawn on Saturday and Sunday and at dawn on Monday (Labor Day). A
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2020 saw the 44th be modified. Myron
Peacher Memorial Launch Field was closed to fans. The Friday Night South Main Night Flame was cancelled.
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The derby itself is held now at the Myron
Peacher Memorial Launch Site, an open field on State Road FF about two miles north of
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The derby was first held from
September 30 to October 2, 1977 with forty balloons launching from
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218:"Brookfield, Missouri hosts 34th Annual Great Pershing Balloon Derby"
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A "night glow" launch from the 2001 Great
Pershing Balloon Derby.
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west of Brookfield. Originally sponsored and organized by the
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Derby was also held at a variety of temporary locations in
283:. Pershng Balloon Derby Association. 2012. Archived from
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325:Hot air balloon festivals in the United States
199:is usually held at sunset on Sunday evening.
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144:Missouri Department of Natural Resources
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220:. KSHB-TV via website. Archived from
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83:http://www.pershingballoonderby.com
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114:. It is named in honor of General
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216:Clegg, Mark (6 September 2010).
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30:A day launch at the 2005 derby.
248:"Great Pershing Balloon Derby"
246:Jenkins, Jason (August 2012).
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120:American Expeditionary Forces
92:Great Pershing Balloon Derby
19:Great Pershing Balloon Derby
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250:. Rural Missouri magazine
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310:Chamber of Commerce Site
96:hot air balloon festival
330:Ballooning competitions
126:and a native of nearby
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345:Linn County, Missouri
335:Festivals in Missouri
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104:Brookfield, Missouri
57:Brookfield, Missouri
140:Pershing State Park
287:on 4 February 2013
224:on 27 January 2013
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128:Laclede, Missouri
112:Pacific Northwest
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39:Labor Day weekend
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340:Missouri culture
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118:, leader of the
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281:"Event History"
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181:beauty contests
176:U.S. Highway 36
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74:September, 1977
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289:. Retrieved
285:the original
252:. Retrieved
226:. Retrieved
222:the original
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63:Years active
149:Linn County
124:World War I
71:Inaugurated
52:Location(s)
319:Categories
203:References
197:night glow
98:held each
66:Since 1977
291:4 October
254:4 October
228:4 October
100:Labor Day
44:Frequency
191:, and a
185:concerts
110:and the
47:Annually
189:parades
134:History
108:Florida
79:Website
193:fly-in
36:Begins
94:is a
55:near
293:2012
256:2012
230:2012
90:The
122:in
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264:^
238:^
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295:.
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