THANK YOU VOTERS FOR THE 2023 BEST EVENT/FESTIVAL AWARD!

The H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival was voted the Best Event/Festival courtesy of Plano Magazine. The July/August issue featuring the Best of Plano highlights “The Guide to the Good Stuff.” The 2nd place winner within the Culture & Entertainment category is Dickens in Downtown Plano and 3rd place winner is Deerfield Lights. 

Plano is the Official Hot Air Balloon Capital of Texas and will celebrate that distinction with a balloon launch* on Sunday, September 24 at 6:00 a.m.  The Festival began in Plano in 1980 and has continued as an annual tradition for families to learn about ballooning. From the sunrise inflations to the sunset glows, the wonder of hot air balloons is an unforgettable adventure for our community and everyone who visits Plano. Discover Plano through its live music, eateries, and local culture with a wide range of amenities vibrantly showcased on the Visit Plano website.

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2023 HOT AIR BALLOONS & PILOTS

A rainbow of colors, animals, and shapes will be flying High in the Texas Sky at the 2023 H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival on September 21-24! Lulu the leopard, Fire Dog, Mister Z, Daz the Whirling Rascal, and Spyder Pig are a few of the special shapes to be spotted among 37 hot air balloons. A Tethered Balloon Ride is a fun experience taking riders up in the air to hover 20-30 feet above the ground for several minutes. This is just the right amount of time to get the feeling of floating, take magical photos and videos, and check “ride in a hot air balloon” off your lifelong list of things to do.

The four-day weekend begins on Thursday, September 21 and continues through Sunday, September 24. 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).

MR. Z
Pilot: Dan Stukas
Central, South Carolina
Big Red Again hot air balloon pilot Joseph Calabrette from Hickory Creek, Texas
BIG RED AGAIN
Pilot: Joseph Calabrette
Hickory Creek, Texas
FIRE DOG
Pilot: Brian Chase
Moscow, Pennsylvania
RE/MAX Pilot: Steven Lombardi Edgewood, Texas
RE/MAX
Pilot: Steven Lombardi
Edgewood, Texas
SPYDERPIG Pilot: Michael Celentano Allen, Texas
SPYDERPIG
Pilot: Matt Robison
Allen, Texas
STARDUST Pilot: Amanda Ibbotson-Sullivan Grand Prairie, Texas
STARDUST
Pilot: Mark Ibbotson
Grand Prairie, Texas
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