TRAFFIC ALERTS & CLOSURES

“Traffic Alert for the H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival! Please be aware that this event will be a multi-day event and include multi-day closures. Be sure to plan accordingly!” City of Plano, Texas Government

Closures:
Spring Creek between Jupiter and Parker Rd. will close on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 2 pm and reopen Sunday, Sept. 25, by midnight. Throughout the event – the area around Oak Point park will have various road closures and increased traffic.

The H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival & Run is open:
Thursday, Sept. 22. 5-10 pm
Friday, Sept. 23. 4-10 pm
Saturday, Sept. 24. 6 am – 10 pm
Sunday, Sept. 25. 6 am – 7 pm
View the full Schedule of Events.

Continue reading “TRAFFIC ALERTS & CLOSURES”

10K, 5K, AND 1K FINISHER MEDALS FOR PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL RACES

The 2022 Plano Balloon Festival Races finisher medals will have you sliding and gliding into the finish line, to earn one of these air-tastic medals on September 24-25! Each race medal features 12 colorful hot air balloons and is set in antique silver. The 5K and 10K medals both feature a hot air balloon that slides up and down! The 1K and 5K medals are both 3″ and the 10K medal is 3 1/2″ in size.

Runner registration also includes complimentary parking at Collin College on race day and two tickets to the H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival that may be used September 22-25. The gates open at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and free breakfast set-up for runners to enjoy before or after their race.

Continue reading “10K, 5K, AND 1K FINISHER MEDALS FOR PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL RACES”

HALF MARATHON MEDAL IS A HOT SLIDER!

The 2022 Plano Balloon Festival Half Marathon Medal is a hot slider that features 12 colorful hot air balloons! Things are REALLY looking up is the theme for the festival this year and the finisher medals are floating high in the sky as a custom reward for runners to earn and enjoy. The concept for the design includes movement of one hot air balloon allowing it to ascend and descend with a simple slide up or down.

Continue reading “HALF MARATHON MEDAL IS A HOT SLIDER!”

ROYAL RACE SHIRTS REVEALED

The 2022 Plano Balloon Festival race shirts are officially revealed to be a royal blue topflight heather tee with an artistic hot air balloon floating above the trail. The moisture wicking fabric on the high performance gender specific race shirts also provide seasonal comfort for the hot Texas weather that hits in early Fall. All adult runners registered for the Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, 1K, Elevate Challenge and Sky High Challenge will receive this shirt in a size of their choice. Children age 12 and under signed up for the 1K super fun run receive a cape!

Continue reading “ROYAL RACE SHIRTS REVEALED”

2022 RACE REGISTRATION IS OPEN WITH LOW FEES VALID THROUGH OCTOBER 31

The 2022 Plano Balloon Festival Races are officially scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 24 (5K & 1K) and Sunday, September 25 (10K & Half Marathon); once again featuring the Elevate and Sky High Challenges! New commemorative finisher medals will be designed and given to all participants at the completion of each distance.

Continue reading “2022 RACE REGISTRATION IS OPEN WITH LOW FEES VALID THROUGH OCTOBER 31”

2021 H-E-B | CENTRAL MARKET PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL & RUN IS REALLY HAPPENING

The H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival & Run is really happening September 17-19 at Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve. Epicureans with delicious appetites know that H-E-B | Central Market, as the title sponsor, is “Really Into Food.” Attendees will experience an enchanting opportunity as balloon enthusiasts who are “Really Into Balloons.”  

“The Plano Balloon Festival is the signature event of Plano and beyond. We’re thrilled to be able to support this tradition that brings so much community spirit, beauty and notoriety to our area.”

Mabrie Jackson, Director of Public Affairs, H-E-B | Central Market
Continue reading “2021 H-E-B | CENTRAL MARKET PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL & RUN IS REALLY HAPPENING”

VIRTUAL CELEBRATION FOR 10TH PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL RACES

The news is out that the Central Market Plano Balloon Festival has been canceled. But as we turn the corner, there’s still a hot and humid breeze of excitement ready to carry us forward, one step at a time. Runners across the country are now registering for the 10th Annual Plano Balloon Festival Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, 1K and the Sky High and Elevate Challenges!

Continue reading “VIRTUAL CELEBRATION FOR 10TH PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL RACES”

LAST RUNNER REGISTRATION DISCOUNT & RACE REMINDERS

Race fees go up at midnight on August 31!! Missed the early registration pricing?  Don’t labor over it because we’ve got one final discount deal.  Use code: PBFLABORDAY during the Labor Day holiday valid September 1 through September 3 and receive $5 off all distances.  Click here to sign up.

 

 

We also have two reminders that runners need to know! First, if you would like to order the packet pick up mailing, the deadline to do so is 11:59 PM on Saturday, August 31st. To add it, and manage your registration, simply click the link in your email confirmation that reads Manage My Registration or you can:

 

1. Login at www.runsignup.com
2. Select Profile from the drop down menu in the upper right corner
3. Find your PBF registration and click Manage My Registration
4. From the left side navigation select Add Ons and follow the prompts
5. Bonus, also on the left side navigation you can Transfer Events, meaning you can upgrade or downgrade your distance using this feature
6. Bonus Two, also on the left side navigation you can manage your Give Away, meaning you can switch shirt sizes using this feature
7. Bonus Three, also on the left side navigation you can Transfer To Another Runner, meaning, you can transfer your race entry to someone else (at no charge), using this feature

 

 

Second, there is no race day packet pick up. A friend or family member may pick up for you, we just ask that they have your email confirmation. Here are the all of the upcoming packet pick up dates, times and locations:

 

• Saturday, September 7th, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Rahr & Sons Brewery, 701 Galveston Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76104
• Saturday, September 14th, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Academy Sports + Outdoors, 1101 West Arbook Blvd., Arlington, TX 76015
• Thursday, September 19th, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Academy Sports + Outdoors, 6375 E. Northwest Highway, Dallas, TX 75231
• Friday, September 20th, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Plano Event Center | Spring Glade Room (east side of building), 2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, TX 75074
• Saturday, September 21st, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Plano Event Center | Spring Glade Room (east side of building), 2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, TX 75074

 

For answers to more FAQ’s visit www.pbfraces.org!

RUNNER REGISTRATION INCREASES AUGUST 31

Runner registration increases at midnight on August 31st for the Plano Balloon Festival Half Marathon, Sky High Challenge, Elevate Challenge, 10K, 5K and 1K run/walk! All registration must be completed online since race day sign-up is not available.

 

Friday, September 20, 2019 at Noon the online registration closes for the Sky High Challenge, Elevate Challenge, 5K, and 1K. Saturday, September 21, 2019 at Noon the Half Marathon and 10K online registration closes.  All races are subject to being closed earlier if the event becomes sold out.

Continue reading “RUNNER REGISTRATION INCREASES AUGUST 31”

RED HOT 2019 RACE SHIRTS TURN UP YOUR RUN

Plano Balloon Festival Races officially unveils the red hot 2019 race shirts that will turn UP your run! The Texas temperatures get heated and these gender specific technical shirts are on fire.

 

Each race registration also includes a custom finisher medal featuring nine hot air balloons to represent the 9th year for the Plano Balloon Festival Races.  This year the distances include the Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Sky High Challenge, Elevate Challenge, and 1K fun run.

 

The highly anticipated photos of the finisher medals were revealed in March and the unveiling posted to our blog site.  General registration for all distances ends August 31 at midnight and then prices increase. Runners receive a shirt, finisher medal, a hot breakfast is served in the runners village, race day parking pass, and tickets to the InTouch Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival that is proudly celebrating 40 Years of Ballooning!

 

https://blog.planoballoonfest.org/index.php/pbf-races-unveils-5k-and-1k-finisher-medals/