2022 HOT AIR BALLOONS & PILOTS

Things are really looking up for the H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival & Run and dozens of beautiful hot air balloons will participate in the 2022 activities. The special shapes include Zorro, Allycorn the Unicorn, Axel the Tiger, SpyderPig, Billy the Kid, Gizmo, and Airmadillo Cowboy. Take a Tethered Balloon Ride that lifts off the ground, hovers 20-30 feet above the ground for several minutes, but you won’t launch or fly away.

The festival is open September 22-25 and TICKETS are available online or at the gate. General admission is $10 for adults, $ 5 – kids 3-12 years old, $ 5 – Seniors 65 and older, free for kids 36″ and under, and free for all Military and First Responders (with valid ID).

TICO
Pilot: Craig Farrell
Australia

Airmadillo Cowboy Pilot: Charlie Edwards Ft. Myers, Florida — AIRMADILLO COWBOY
Pilot: Charlie Edwards
Ft. Myers, Florida

Aris Pilot: Jason Provost Hurst, Texas — ARIS
Pilot: Jason Provost
Hurst, Texas

Axel Pilot: Craig Farrell Australia — AXEL
Pilot: Craig Farrell
Australia

Big Red Again hot air balloon pilot Joseph Calabrette from Hickory Creek, Texas — BIG RED AGAIN
Pilot: Joseph Calabrette
Hickory Creek, Texas

Billy the Kid hot air balloon pilot Steven Stokoe from Lutz, Florida — BILLY THE KID
Pilot: Steven Stokoe
Lutz, Florida

Black Magic hot air balloon pilot Janet Patton from Denton, Texas — BLACK MAGIC
Pilot: Janet Patton
Denton, Texas

BEAUTIFUL NOISE Pilot: Craig Hays Coppell, Texas — BEAUTIFUL NOISE
Pilot: Craig Hays
Coppell, Texas

Calypso hot air balloon pilot Eric Wiggins Greenville, Mississippi — CALYPSO
Pilot: Eric Wiggins
Greenville, Mississippi

COSMIC CRISP APPLE
Pilot: Steve Wilkinson

DOS EQUIS Pilot: Scott Appleman Scottsdale, Arizona — DOS EQUIS
Pilot: Scott Appleman Scottsdale, Arizona

EXCELLENCE Pilot: Amie Cato Paris, Texas — EXCELLENCE
Pilot: Amie Cato
Paris, Texas

FIRED UP TOO Pilot: Michael Marx Prosper, Texas — FIRED UP TOO
Pilot: Michael Marx
Prosper, Texas

FIRST DUE Pilot: Clayton Kemp Frisco, Texas — FIRST DUE
Pilot: Clayton Kemp
Frisco, Texas

GIZMO Pilot: Matt Robison Fort Worth, Texas — GIZMO
Pilot: Matt Robison
Fort Worth, Texas

GOLDEN HIGH Pilot: Richard Ret Dallas, Texas — GOLDEN HIGH
Pilot: Richard Ret
Dallas, Texas

H-E-B Pilot: Scott Vesely Frisco, Texas — H-E-B
Pilot: Scott Vesely
Frisco, Texas

HIGHLY COOL Pilot: Keith Berry Poplar Bluff, Missouri — HIGHLY COOL
Pilot: Keith Berry
Poplar Bluff, Missouri

LOVIN' LIFE IN THE AIR Pilot: Lowell White Forney, Texas — LOVIN’ LIFE IN THE AIR
Pilot: Lowell White
Forney, Texas

MARIAH Pilot: Mark Ibbotson Grand Prairie, Texas — MARIAH
Pilot: Mark Ibbotson
Grand Prairie, Texas

MIKE'S 2 IRRESISTIBLE Pilot: Mike Hance McKinney, Texas — MIKE’S 2 IRRESISTIBLE
Pilot: Mike Hance
McKinney, Texas

RE/MAX Pilot: Steven Lombardi Edgewood, Texas — RE/MAX
Pilot: Steven Lombardi
Edgewood, Texas

SPYDERPIG Pilot: Michael Celentano Allen, Texas — SPYDERPIG
Pilot: Michael Celentano
Allen, Texas

STARDUST Pilot: Amanda Ibbotson-Sullivan Grand Prairie, Texas — STARDUST
Pilot: Amanda Ibbotson-Sullivan
Grand Prairie, Texas

STARS AND STRIPES Pilot: Kevin Kalback Little Elm, Texas — STARS AND STRIPES
Pilot: Kevin Kalback
Little Elm, Texas

UNIFY Pilot: Bill Broker Plano, Texas — UNIFY
Pilot: Bill Broker
Plano, Texas

WHISK AWAY Pilot: Josh Cato Paris, Texas — WHISK AWAY
Pilot: Josh Cato
Paris, Texas

ZORRO Pilot: Mike Fielding Oak Point, Texas — ZORRO
Pilot: Mike Fielding
Oak Point, Texas

UP ROHR Pilot: Brian Rohr McKinney, Texas — UP ROHR
Pilot: Brian Rohr
McKinney, Texas

WHISPER
Pilot: Mike Loy

CHASE CREW VOLUNTEERS:

Volunteer Chase Crew Registration – Sign up to volunteer as crew for Special Shape Hot Air Balloon Pilots. Assist with inflation, static display and glow. All volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and able to lift 30-40 lbs. Volunteers may be 15 years of age or older if accompanied by a parent / guardian. The meeting location is the Hampton Inn and Suites (2813 E. President George Bush Highway, Plano, Texas 75074). Additional information will be emailed to all volunteers prior to the festival date.

SCHEDULE OF FESTIVAL EVENTS:

Thursday, Sept. 22
5:00 PM Festival Opens
6:00 PM Balloon Activities
7:00 PM Plano Symphony Orchestra Family Friendly Concert on the FOX4 Main Stage
7:45 PM Balloon Glow
9:00 PM Festival Closes
Friday, Sept. 23
4:00 PM Festival Opens
4:15 PM Party Machine in Concert on the FOX4 Main Stage
5:30 PM RE/MAX of Texas Parachute Team Exhibition
6:00 PM Balloon Activities presented by RE/MAX of Texas
7:00 PM Party Machine in Concert on the FOX4 Main Stage
7:45 PM Balloon Glow presented by Dos Equis
8:15 PM Party Machine in Concert on the FOX4 Main Stage
9:00 PM Spectacular Fireworks Show presented by T-Mobile
9:15 PM Party Machine in Concert on the FOX4 Main Stage
10:00 PM Festival Closes
Saturday, Sept. 24
6:00 AM Festival Opens
7:00 AM 5K Run / Walk Starts Balloon Activities presented by the City of Plano
8:00 AM Balloon Fly In Competition
8:30 AM 1K Run / Walk Starts
9:00 AM PBF Races Awards Ceremony
4:00 PM Missing 3 in Concert on the FOX4 Main Stage
5:30 PM RE/MAX of Texas Parachute Team Exhibition
6:00 PM Balloon Activities presented by H-E-B / Central Market
7:00 PM Moving Colors in Concert on the FOX4 Main Stage
7:45 PM Balloon Glow presented by UNIFY FCU
8:15 PM Moving Colors in Concert on the FOX4 Main Stage
9:00 PM Spectacular Fireworks Show
9:15 PM Moving Colors in Concert on the FOX4 Main Stage
10:00 PM Festival Closes
Sunday, Sept. 25
6:00 AM Festival Opens
7:00 AM Balloon Activities presented by the City of Plano Half Marathon & 10K Races Start
8:00 AM Balloon Fly In Competition
9:30 AM PBF Races Awards Ceremony
5:30 PM RE/MAX of Texas Parachute Team Exhibition
6:00 PM Balloon Activities
7:00 PM Festival Closes

Plano Balloon Festival Races