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2008 Major Sponsors     |
History - Mayor's Cup Hot Air Balloon Race
 28 Years of Ballooning in Rochester
The 23rd Annual Mayor’s Cup Invitational Hot Air Balloon Race
June 26-29 2008
Rochester, MN
Hosted by the Honorable Mayor Ardell Brede
The Mayor’s Cup Hot Air Balloon Race has not always been called The
Mayor's Cup. In 1980 the first event was held when 10 balloonists
gathered in Rochester to fly in a new area with local balloonist George
Ibach.
 The balloons flew from the campus of The Rochester Community College now
known as the University Center and surprised the residents with a burst
of beauty in the Rochester skies as well as the surrounding countryside.
The great flying area combined with the camaraderie of the balloonists,
the support of local businesses and the citizens of Rochester was the
birth of the event now known as the Mayor's Cup Invitational Hot Air
Balloon Race.
The first balloon races were held from 1980 through 1988. In 1995 Mayor
Chuck Hazama and George Ibach re-established the event as part of
Rochesterfest. In the previous 19 events only one year has been met by
inclement weather where the balloons did not fly any of the three
scheduled flights.
So come out to our new launch location just south of Valleyhigh Drive and west
of County Road 22. Bring your friends, family, children and cameras to
watch these beautiful gentle giants fill the skies over Rochester. |
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