Plano Balloon Fest

LIVE MUSIC, SKYDIVERS, LASER SHOW AND FAMILY ATTRACTIONS

Hot air balloons may fill the sky, but there’s plenty happening on the ground at the 2026 H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival. The four-day celebration returns September 17-20 with a full lineup of live music and performances on the FOX4 Main Stage, high-flying exhibitions by the RE/MAX of Texas Parachute Team, family attractions, carnival rides, festival food, tethered balloon rides and a new Laser Show by Boom Special Effects.

The festival’s entertainment lineup offers guests something to experience throughout the weekend between scheduled balloon activities. FOX4 returns as Main Stage sponsor with musical acts and community performances, while attractions throughout Red Tail Pavilion / Oak Point Park create a full festival experience for guests of all ages.

New this year, a Laser Show by Boom Special Effects will replace the previously scheduled fireworks display. Continued dry conditions and the current burn ban make the traditional fireworks show unsuitable this year, giving festival organizers an opportunity to introduce a colorful nighttime production while prioritizing safety.

HOT AIR BALLOONS AND PILOTS INCLUDE UNICORN, LLAMA, FISH, BIRDS AND MORE!

The H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival returns September 17-20, 2026, bringing more than 40 hot air balloons, special shapes and four days of family-friendly entertainment to Red Tail Pavilion / Oak Point Park, 2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway in Plano.

“There is nothing quite like watching the launch field come alive as the pilots and crew begin inflating the balloons,” says Amy Leone, Balloon Operations Coordinator. “A year of planning leads to those incredible moments. We are thrilled to welcome 12 special shapes that includes a pig, duck, llama, frog, bear, fish, birds, cat, raccoon, and even a unicorn and sasquatch sighting. I can’t wait for everyone to experience the excitement of the inflations and glows.”

The 2026 theme, Shared Horizon, celebrates the vibrant sport of ballooning that has brought North Texas together for more than four decades. It reflects the moment pilots, crews, families and spectators look to the same sky as colorful balloons bring Red Tail Pavilion / Oak Point Park to life. This year’s artwork features sponsor balloons and special shapes set against a sunrise or sunset horizon that has become a Festival signature.

“Each balloon and pilot brings a different story to the launch field, but together they create an experience that belongs to the entire community,” said Jo Via, Festival Director. “From longtime Festival favorites to imaginative special shapes and newly introduced balloons, this year’s lineup will fill our Shared Horizon and give families even more reasons to share in the wonder.”

The Team Behind the Flame: How Pinnacle Propane Helps Fuel the Festival

When spectators look across the field at the H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival, they see colorful balloons, glowing burners, and thousands of feet of fabric rising into the Texas sky.

What they don’t always see is the fuel that makes it all possible.

For many years, Pinnacle Propane has served as the festival’s propane provider, helping ensure balloon pilots have the fuel they need for launches, balloon glows, demonstrations, and other festival activities. While much of their work happens behind the scenes, it plays a critical role in bringing one of North Texas’ most beloved traditions to life.

Pilot Spotlight: Kerry Speicher and HiLight Bring a Family Love of Ballooning to Plano

For Kerry Speicher of Longview, Texas, hot air ballooning began not in the basket, but on the ground with his family.

Years before he became a commercial balloon pilot, Speicher and his wife, Stephanie, began taking their two young daughters to the Great Texas Balloon Race. Starting around 2003, Stephanie would sometimes load the girls into the car while they were still in their pajamas to go searching for balloons.

The girls loved chasing balloons, collecting pilot trading cards and helping crews on the field. What started as a family outing eventually became a family passion.

This September, Speicher will bring that passion, and his bright yellow-and-green racing balloon HiLight, to the H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival.

‘SHARED HORIZON’ LAUNCHES AS THE 2026 THEME FOR H-E-B | CENTRAL MARKET PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL, SEPT. 17-20

The H‑E‑B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival announced this year’s theme: Shared Horizon. The artwork celebrates the shared wonder of ballooning that has defined North Texas for more than four decades. It reflects the way pilots and spectators all look to the same sky as colorful hot-air balloons bring Oak Point Park to life, capturing the moment and creating a sense of connection that stretches across the entire horizon.

“Shared Horizon is about more than balloons,” said Jo Via, Festival Director. “It reflects the way this festival brings people together — pilots sharing the sky, families creating lasting memories, alongside an engaged community. This year’s artwork captures that spirit beautifully.”

The 2026 theme and design features sponsor balloons and special shapes, with a sunrise horizon that has become a festival signature.

NO PROB LLAMA AND COMO SE LLAMA

Courtesy of Bard Balloon:
“Congratulations to Bill Broker & Uplifting Adventures for the construction and beautiful execution of two, twin, brand-new Bard Balloons designed special shape hot air balloon envelopes.

The pink Llama is named Como Se Llama and owned by Stephanie Maughan from the St. Louis area.

The dark grey Llama is named No Prob Llama and owned by Bill Broker.

These balloons use the BARD Racer profile and use smooth skin gores with no visible lofting between load tapes. With a base volume of only 65k, a total volume of 71.3k, and with those super-tall ears they stand a full 106 feet tall. Using Bard Balloons brand-new second generation FLOATCOAT lightweight fabric in custom dyed colors, these two envelopes only weight 201 lbs each.”

TICKETS ON SALE

Tickets are officially on sale for the H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival that is themed to “Rise & Shine” on September 18-21. The four-day weekend has exciting new attractions featuring Portillo’s 32-foot long Beef Bus® and a Classic Car Show including Oldsmobile, Chevy, Buick, Pontiac and Cadillac. Thomas J. Henry Law, the largest personal injury law firm in Texas, is sponsoring the Spectacular Pyrotex Fireworks Show on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Families can explore the Whataburger Kids Korner Free Art Tent located in the Central Market Kids Fun Zone full of inflatables, slides and rides. Watch the RE/MAX sky divers land on the field, take a tethered ride in a hot air balloon, or climb in the front seat of the ultimate driving machine courtesy of BMW of Plano.

Admission and parking fees are as follows:

$10 General Admission
$5 Kids Ages 3-12
$5 Seniors 65 and Over
FREE for Kids 36” and Under
FREE for Military and First Responders (with valid ID)
$10 Off-site Parking and $15 Prime Parking
$20 All Day Kids Fun Zone Ride Wristband
$50 VIP Plano Symphony Orchestra Concert

Festival Dates & Hours
September 18 – 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
September 19 – 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
September 20 – 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
September 21 – 6:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

UPLIFTING ADVENTURES COLD INFLATED BALLOON WALK-THRU

“This year we invite attendees to walk inside a cold inflated hot air balloon envelope that will remain laying on the ground. We’ve partnered with Uplifting Adventures to create an experience that allows an inside out view, great photos, and educational facts about the fabric of the envelope, structure of the basket and more. The walk thru is free for all ages,” says Amy Leone, Balloon Operations Coordinator and Vice/Chair – Secretary on the Plano Balloon Festival Board of Directors.

COLD INFLATED BALLOON WALK-THRU SCHEDULE:

Friday, September 20, 2024 @ 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 21, 2024 @ 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 22, 2024 @ 7:00 a.m.

Festival attendees are welcome to walk to the end of the field where the envelope of the balloon will be cold inflated and laying down. Walk into the balloon, take pictures, and observe the parts of a hot air balloon from within. Fun favors will be available for children to select from and adults will receive the Parts of a Hot Air Balloon flyer along with the Hot Air Balloon Q&A. Special thanks to Uplifting Adventures owner Billy Broker, a licensed commercial pilot flying Excellence, the official City of Plano balloon.

H-E-B | CENTRAL MARKET PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL TO LIGHT UP THE SKY ON SEPT 19-22

The 2024 H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival is preparing to Light Up The Sky and celebrate 45 years of ballooning on September 19-22. More than 40 pilots with colorful hot air balloons and special shapes will participate throughout the Thursday to Sunday event, funded in part by the City of Plano, the official Balloon Capital of Texas. Since 1980 the Festival has remained dedicated to educating attendees about ballooning and offering other non-profits an opportunity to raise funds and awareness for their programs and services. The Festival additionally showcases approximately 55 vendors, 35+ corporate exhibitors, and more than 2,000 volunteers from across North Texas.

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 2^nd place winner within the Culture & Entertainment category is Dickens in Downtown Plano and 3^rd 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.

COLD INFLATED BALLOON WALK-THRU SCHEDULE:

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