Tag: plano balloon festival

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
Continue reading “2023 HOT AIR BALLOONS & PILOTS”

H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival Soars “High In The Texas Sky”

The H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival is going to soar “High In The Texas Sky” on September 21-24. Opening day, Thursday, September 21 will showcase the Plano Symphony Orchestra’s family friendly concert on the FOX4 Main Stage. Hot air balloons will inflate and glow* after the sun sets at Oak Point Park where the flickering of flames will dance in the dark.

On Friday, September 22 the gates open at 4:00 p.m. and includes the RE/MAX Sky Diving Parachute Exhibition. Live entertainment by dance band Party Machine covers decades of hit music, the hot air balloon glow* is presented by RE/MAX, along with a spectacular fireworks show. Saturday, September 23 the gates open at 6:00 a.m. for a balloon launch* presented by Dos Equis, the official beer and hard seltzer sponsor of the festival. The Fox4 Main Stage features Ice House, an energetic party band of musicians, professional dancers, and dynamic singers. H-E-B and Central Market present the evening hot air balloon glow* at 7:00 p.m. followed by an amazing music choreographed fireworks show. 

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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.

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AMATEUR OPERATOR RECEIVES HAM RADIO LICENSE

Kim Chance made a Bucket List in 2014 and one of her 46 itemized goals was to get a ham radio license.  She recalls spending time with her uncle, at his house when she was a kid, and the little room he used as his “radio shack.”  

“I was amazed at all of the cool equipment but had no idea what it was all about. Years later my dad got his ham license and started telling me how he talked to people around the world and even astronauts on the International Space Station!  How cool is that?”

Kimberly M. Chance, Flower Mound, Texas
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ZOE WHITE CREWS FOR PEG LEG PETE THE PIRATE PARROT

Hot air balloon crew volunteers assist out-of-town pilots at the Plano Balloon Festival. Zoe White is a local resident that signed up in 2019 and was assigned to help with Peg Leg Pete the Pirate Parrot hot air balloon. Zoe is a Plano Senior High School graduate and enjoys sharing photography on her Instagram account SweetAzurePhotos.

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EARLY RUNNER REGISTRATION ENDS MARCH 31 FOR PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL RACES

Early registration for the Plano Balloon Festival Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and 1K  ends March 31st!  Sign-up now for the September 19-20 race dates and prepare to go the distance this Fall.  On April 1st the registration fees go up just like the hot air balloons that are scheduled each morning as the race begins.

 

What’s included in your race registration? This epic adventure is a soaring experience that comes with a colorful customized finisher medal, two tickets to the Central Market Plano Balloon Festival, race day parking pass, and a gender specific, short sleeve, dry fit style race shirt.

 

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PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL NAMES CENTRAL MARKET AS NEW TITLE SPONSOR

​​​​​​Plano Balloon Festival, Inc. announces Central Market as the new title sponsor for the annual event set for Sept. 18-20, 2020. The three-day Festival, which began in 1980, has grown into the largest hot air balloon event in Plano and within the Lone Star State. The City of Plano is the Official Hot Air Balloon Capital of Texas and hosts more than 90,000 attendees during Festival weekend at Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve.

 

The Festival and Central Market are both passionate about creating unforgettable experiences for people within the community. Central Market initially stepped in as a sponsor of the Kids Fun Zone, then the Plano Balloon Festival Races, and in 2019 served event attendees fresh food, like their signature grilled cheese sandwiches from a food concession booth at the Festival.

 

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PLANO POLICE PROVIDE ID BRACELETS FOR KIDS AT FESTIVAL GATES

 

Officer Chris Bianez with the Plano Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit discusses the upcoming safety at the InTouch Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival. If you’re bringing a child to the festival, make sure to get them registered at the gate. They’ll receive an ID bracelet with your cell phone written number on the back.  There will be two Lost Child booths on the festival grounds to help reunite parents with any children who may become separated from their families.

 

“Plano Balloon Festival has something for everyone.  Police and Fire personnel will be on hand for your safety and security. If you get a chance stop by our Crime Prevention Booth. We would love to meet you.”  Officer Chris Bianez

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ARTISTS ADD MORE COLOR TO 40TH FESTIVAL CELEBRATION

Local artists will add a splash of more color to our 40th birthday celebration September 20-22 by hosting a “Paint Out” during the three-day weekend. Members of the Plano Art Association, Southwestern Watercolor Society, and Outdoor Painters Society will be painting on-site in a designated tent and they’ll also have pieces on display to browse or buy.

 

“Be on the lookout for easels and brushes, and several professional artists adding more color to the 40th Birthday Celebration at the Plano Balloon Festival 2019.

The Outdoor Painters Society, Plano Art Association, and Southwestern Watercolor Society will be on the fair grounds for an “en plein air” event.  “En Plein Air” is French and, artistically, means painting in the open air.

Artist will have access to the Festival beginning Friday at 4pm.  They will be able to paint throughout the day on Saturday (6am – 10pm) as well.  On Sunday, the artists will meet in a designated area to display and offer their work for sale.  Stop by and meet the artists and cast your vote for the “People’s Choice” award.” — Irma Ward, Outdoor Painters Society, Director of Paint Out Events

Local artists are invited to participate in the paint out event. For information on how to register, contact irmaward99@gmail.com Continue reading “ARTISTS ADD MORE COLOR TO 40TH FESTIVAL CELEBRATION”

SOAR TO LEGACY WEST FOR FREE FESTIVAL TICKETS

If you like to fly where the wind blows then you’ll want to soar to Legacy West on Thursday, September 5th for an uplifting photo in their “Big Sky” balloon! The Plano Balloon Festival team will be on-site to greet and answer questions about the InTouch Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival coming up September 20-22, 2019. We’ll also be there giving away two free tickets to each person who snaps a selfie between 11:00 a.m. and Noon (limited quantity while they last during this promotional event).

 

The Big Sky Balloon photo op is located directly across from Neighborhood Goods in Legacy West on Windrose Avenue.  Directions and a map with parking garages provide more information for easy access to the location.

 

 

Visit Plano is also giving away an exciting weekend package that includes: a 1-night stay at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Plano/Richardson, 4 tickets to the festival, VIP parking, a $50 restaurant gift card, and a picnic basket full of goodies.

 

InTouch Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival Celebrating 40 Years Of Ballooning