Plano Balloon Fest

In celebration of our 45 years, the 2024 H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival is going to Light Up The Sky on September 19-22! This year includes 10 big-eared and smiling special shape hot air balloons: Annie the Ladybug, Larry the Bear, Flying Saucer, Ziggy, Amelia Bearhart, Mango the Seahorse, Purple People Eater, Gizzmo, Mr. Z and Haunted Mansion!

Yes, you can take a ride in a hot air balloon, but not fly away. Experience the sensation with a Tethered Ride that takes you up in the air hovering 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. Passengers must sign a waiver, be at least six years of age and rides are offered during the festival, weather permitting.

Opening day is Thursday, September 19 and the four-day festival weekend continues through Sunday, September 22. 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

**ZIGGY**
Pilot: Mike Fielding
Oak Point, Texas

**ANNIE THE LADYBUG**
Pilot: Michael Celentano
Frisco, Texas

**WHISK AWAY**
Pilot: Joshua Cato
Reno, Nevada

**AMELIA BEARHART**
Pilot: Michael Ford
Fort Worth, Texas

**GIZZMO**
Pilot: Matt Robison
Fort Worth, Texas

**LARRY THE BEAR**
Pilot: Brian Chase
Moscow, Pennsylvania

**MANGO THE SEAHORSE**
Pilot: Rollie Little
Glendale, Arizona

**PURPLE PEOPLE EATER**
Pilot: Alisa Metzler
Newmanstown, Pennsylvania

**UPROHR2**
Pilot: David Griffin
Frisco, Texas

**HAUNTED MANSION**
Pilot: Darrell Duer
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Highly Cool Hot Air Balloon pilot Keith Berry at the Plano Balloon Festival — **HIGHLY COOL / FOX 4**
Pilot: Keith Berry
Poplar Bluff, Missouri

Flying Saucer hot air balloon with pilot Charles Edwards at the Plano Balloon Festival — **FLYING SAUCER**
Pilot: Charles Edwards
Palm Harbor, Florida

Calypso hot air balloon Plano Balloon Festival — **CALYPSO**
Pilot: Eric Wiggins
Longview, Texas

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

**NO PROBLEMZ**
Pilot: Robert Snyder
Austin, Texas

**STAR STEPPER**
Pilot: Joshua Goll
Longview, Texas

**SKY SAILOR**
Pilots: Steve LeMay and Lance Terry
McKinney, Texas

**COSMIC CRISP APPLE**
Pilot: Steve Wilkinson
Palm Desert, California

**STARDUST**
Pilot: Amanda Ibbotson-Sullivan
Fort Worth, Texas

Big Red Again pilot Joe Calabrette at the H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival — **BIG RED AGAIN**
Pilot: Joe Calabrette
Hickory Creek, Texas

IMON8 with pilot Jeff Abel at the Plano Balloon Festival — **IMON8**
Pilot: Jeff Abel
Haslet, Texas

**JERSEY LILLY**
Pilot: Bob Evans
Center, Texas

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

**GIDDY UP**
Pilot: Trevor Matejowsky
Dallas, Texas

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

**EXCELLENCE**
Pilots: Billy Broker and
Pat Cannon
Plano, Texas

**REMAX**
Pilot: Steve Lombardi
Edgewood, Texas

**SPIRIT’S RAINBOW**
Pilot: Michael Scott
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

UpRohr hot air balloon with pilot Brian Rohr at Plano Balloon Festival — **UPROHR**
Pilot: Brian Rohr
Lucas, Texas

Lil Nuggest hot air balloon for Chik Fil A pilot Scott Vesely at the Plano Balloon Festival — **LIL NUGGET**
Pilot: Scott Vesely
Frisco, Texas

**DAWN’S LIGHT**
Pilot: Lillian Speicher
Longview, Texas

**FREEDOM BREEZE**
Pilot: Collin McClung
Longview, Texas

**NORTH WIND**
Pilot: Kerry Speicher
Longview, Texas

**C-TOT**
Pilot: Jason Provost
Hurst, Texas

FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS:

Volunteer Chase Crew Registration – Sign up to volunteer as crew for Special Shape Hot Air Balloon Pilots that have traveled from out of town in order to participate in the festival. Assist with inflation, static display, glow, and learn with hands-on experience about ballooning. 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. MEETING LOCATION: Hampton Inn and Suites (2813 E. President George Bush Highway, Plano, Texas 75074). Additional information will be emailed to you closer to the festival date.

National Honor Society Volunteer Registration – Sign up to volunteer at our Admission Gates distributing Child ID Bands or in our Kids Korner Arts and Crafts Tent. In our Kids Korner Craft Tent, you will be manning craft stations, helping our littlest guests.

General Volunteer Registration – Sign up to volunteer as a general festival volunteer assisting with crowd control on the launch field, recording ice sales in each vendor zone, or one of the many areas we need volunteer support. All volunteers must be 18 years of age or older.