Plano Balloon Fest

PILOT SPOTLIGHT: ROBERT SNYDER

For Robert Snyder, hot air ballooning began with two life-changing introductions: a future wife and a first flight.

Born in Southern California, Robert didn’t discover the world of ballooning until he moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, to attend New Mexico State University. While there, he met a young woman from Albuquerque who would later become his wife of 32 years. Around the same time, one of his fraternity brothers happened to be a balloon pilot.

A trip to Albuquerque for the world-famous Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta sparked his curiosity, but it was a flight with his fraternity friend that truly changed everything.

“I was hooked,” Robert recalls.

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.”

RISE & SHINE WITH HOT AIR BALLOONS & PILOTS SEPT 18-21

Rise & Shine and have a good time with more than 30 hot air balloons at the H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival on September 18-21. Among the special shapes includes Ms. Autumn that is a giant pumpkin with a massive green stem, and Barnstormer that features a cow, horse, pig, farmer and silo; representing the American farmers that feed our great nation. Voluntold is a historical nod to the first balloon flight in 1783 and pilot Gary Moore has incorporated a sheep, duck and rooster into the design to honor the passengers who originally flew and safely landed. Ziggy the Raccoon is ready for adventure, Bud E Beaver weighs 700 pounds, and fans will adore seeing Lovebirds, Fire Dog, and Police Dog on the field.

H-E-B Hot Air Balloon pilot Amie Cato at the Plano Balloon Festival — **H-E-B**
Pilot: Amie Cato
Paris, Texas

Central Market Whisked Away hot air balloon with pilot Matt Robison of Fort Worth Texas — **H-E-B**
Pilot: Amie Cato
Paris, Texas

**POLICE DOG**
Pilot: Brian Chase
Moscow, Pennsylvania

**BARNSTORMER**
Pilot: David Adler
Belgrade, Montana

Ziggy the Raccoon Hot Air Balloon at the Plano Balloon Festival — **BARNSTORMER**
Pilot: David Adler
Belgrade, Montana

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.

RISE & SHINE SEPTEMBER 18-21

The H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival will “Rise & Shine” on September 18-21 in a four-day celebration of ballooning at Oak Point Park. The annual event is a family-friendly weekend of activities with magnificent hot air balloons, spectacular fireworks show, carnival rides, fair food, cultural performances, live bands, and local vendors. The Festival is sponsored by H-E-B, Central Market, FOX 4, RE/MAX, BMW, and Whataburger; and funded in part by the City of Plano.

Children of all ages can experience the Whataburger Kids Korner Free Art Tent located in the Central Market Kids Fun Zone full of inflatables, slides and rides. Stroll the park and shop hand-crafted artwork, toys, gifts, apparel and other merchandise from 35 merchandise vendors providing an assortment of décor, artwork and more. Climb in the front seat of an ultimate driving machine, experience exceptional customer service and exclusive offers with BMW of Plano.

FESTIVAL FOOD: WAFFLES, TURKEY LEGS, LEMONADE, CORNDOGS AND MORE!

ALL CHICKEN CONCESSIONS
Chicken on a Stick, Orange Chicken, Egg Rolls, Fried Rice, Noodles, Soft Pretzels, Ribbon Cut Potatoes, Fried Oreos, Fried Snickers, Flavored Lemonade, Bottled Water and Soft Drinks

ARE YA THIRS-TEA
Sweet, Unsweet, Peach, Raspberry and Mango Tea; Loaded Lemonade, Jumbo Pickles, and Koolaid Pickles

BIG D KETTLE CORN
Kettle Corn, Bottled Water and Soft Drinks

BOBADDICTION
Tea and Coffee

CONWAY’S CORNDOGS
Corndogs, Fresh Lemonade, Sweet Tea, Cotton Candy, Soft Drinks and Bottled Water

DICKEY’S BARBECUE PIT
Chop Beef Sandwich, Turkey Legs, Pork Sandwich, Chips, Bottled Soft Drinks, Tea and Water

High In The Texas Sky Drone Show, RE/MAX Parachute Team, and Live Bands on Fox 4 Stage

The H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival entertainment will feature a drone show, parachute team sky divers, and live music all weekend. The newly added “High In The Texas Sky Drone Show” includes 200 drones by Sky Elements Drone Shows that is replacing the traditional fireworks show due to the continued burn ban in Collin County. Sky Elements recently achieved a Guiness World Records title and continues to spearhead the transition from fireworks to awe-inspiring drone shows. The drone performances will take place on September 22 and 23 on Friday and Saturday evenings, following the balloon* glow events.

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