Plano Balloon Fest

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.

TICKETS ARE REALLY ON SALE FOR THE H-E-B | CENTRAL MARKET PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL & RUN

Tickets are really on sale as of June 15 for the 2022 H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival & Run that will be held September 22-25. General admission is $10 per person and tickets are $5 for children age 12 and under and seniors age 65 and up. Admission is free for children 36” and under and all Military and First Responders who present a valid ID. The Kids Fun Zone ride wristbands are $20 and include all day play on the inflatables and mechanical carnival rides. Individual ride tickets may be purchased for $2.50 each.

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.

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!

GLOBAL RUNNING DAY $5 DISCOUNT JUNE 1-5

Global Running Day is June 1 and we’re offering a $5 discount on all races valid until 11:59 p.m. on June 5. Use discount code GRD2022 to save $5 on race registration fees for the 2022 Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, 1K fun run, the Sky High Challenge and Elevate Challenge.

Runners completing the Elevate and Sky High Challenges receive a BONUS finisher medal for a total of three medals! Registration includes a complimentary breakfast and two tickets to the H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival for any day of the festival. In addition, your race bib serves as entry to the festival with complimentary parking at Collin College on race day.

On Saturday the 5K starts at 7:00 AM and the 1K at 8:30 AM. On Sunday, both the Half Marathon and 10K start at 7:00 AM. All packets must be picked up in advance. A packet mailing option is available for a limited time. Follow PBF Races on Facebook and Instagram!

FESTIVAL WILL OPEN EARLY TO CELEBRATE THE PLANO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY

The H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival & Run will open one day early to celebrate the Plano Symphony Orchestra’s 40^th Anniversary Season. The Festival will be opening to the public on Thursday, September 22 at 5:00 p.m. to kick-off the weekend with music, hot air balloons, festival food and vendors, along with the famous Central Market Kids Fun Zone. The special community concert begins at 7:00 p.m. and offers families the opportunity to enjoy the orchestra in an outdoor setting while the hot air balloons glow in the background. The music will include pieces from films like Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Magnificent Seven, Silverado, and favorites from James Bond films.

“We understand the importance of celebrating big anniversaries and welcoming the Plano Symphony Orchestra to the 2022 H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival & Run will mark the first time the Symphony has performed an outdoor, family friendly, community concert. We’re very excited to showcase the Plano Symphony Orchestra at this year’s Festival and can’t wait to be part of this wonderful evening.”
Jo Via, Executive Director of Plano Balloon Festival, Inc.

THINGS ARE REALLY LOOKING UP!

“Things Are Really Looking Up” for the H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival & Run that is celebrating its 43^rd year on September 23-25. The City of Plano is the Official Hot Air Balloon Capital of Texas and this annual ballooning tradition will be held at the Red Tail Pavilion / Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve. The three-day weekend features more than 30 colorful hot air balloons, a RE/MAX parachute team exhibition, live entertainment on the FOX4 Main Stage, a spectacular fireworks show, marketing sponsors, food concessions, arts and crafts vendors, a kids fun zone, and more!

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

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.

PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL BOARD CANCELS 2021

The Plano Balloon Festival, Inc. has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 H-E-B Central Market Plano Balloon Festival that was scheduled for September 17 – 19. With the continued increase in COVID cases, specifically the Delta Variant, the Festival board and staff has considered the health and safety of our Festival pilots, attendees, volunteers, sponsors, and vendors our top priority. In making this difficult decision we are mindful of the extremely large number of families that attend the event, the majority of which have children under 12 years of age.

Providing a safe environment for everyone that visits the event is crucial, especially for our youngest attendees. Safety has been at the forefront of our Festival from the very beginning and that will not change. This was not an easy decision, but the right one to make. We deeply appreciate the support of our partners, sponsors, and the community; and look forward to the best festival ever in 2022.

Sponsors