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.
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 Pilot: Joseph Calabrette Hickory Creek, Texas
FIRE DOG Pilot: Brian Chase Moscow, Pennsylvania
RE/MAX Pilot: Steven Lombardi Edgewood, Texas
SPYDERPIG Pilot: Matt Robison Allen, Texas
STARDUST Pilot: Mark Ibbotson Grand Prairie, Texas
Tickets are officially on sale for the 2023 H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival as of Friday, July 14. The four-day event is September 21-24 and special shapes include: Mister Z, Fire Dog, Spider Pig, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Leopard, and Daz – the Whirling Rascal.
Admission, tickets and parking pricing are as follows:
$10 General Admission
$5 Kids Ages 3-12
$5 Seniors 65 and Over
FREE for Kids 36” and Under
$10 Off-site Parking and $15 Prime Parking
$20 All Day Kids Fun Zone Ride Wristband
$2.50 Per Ride Kids Fun Zone
$20 Kids Ages 6-12 Tethered Hot Air Balloon Ride
$30 Tethered Hot Air Balloon Ride
$50 VIP Plano Symphony Orchestra Concert
The H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival is continuing the collaboration with the Plano Symphony Orchestra on Thursday, September 21. A limited number of VIP Tickets are available for $50; and include prime parking at First United Methodist Church, Festival admission, special VIP reception at 6:00 p.m. and VIP seating for the 7:30 p.m. concert on the FOX 4 Main Stage.
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.
WHEREAS, in 1979 Jim and Haverly Marshall moved to Plano and set up the Balloon Academy of Texas. A love for hot air balloons inspired him to offer balloon rides to those attending the city’s 4th of July celebration, and this simple act led to the launch of the annual Plano Balloon Festival; and
WHEREAS, over the past four decades, the love of hot air balloons has grown exponentially in Plano. Citizens of all ages and visitors alike continue to be mesmerized by the many beautiful hot air balloons dotting the Plano skies each fall during the balloon festival. This signature event has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors to Plano and an untold multitude of local residents enjoy the privilege of watching the balloons from their own backyards, nearby parks and neighborhood gathering places over the years; and
Things are really looking up for the H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival & Run and dozens of beautiful hot air balloons will participate in the 2022 activities. The special shapes include Zorro, Allycorn the Unicorn, Axel the Tiger, SpyderPig, Billy the Kid, Gizmo, and Airmadillo Cowboy. Take a Tethered Balloon Ride that lifts off the ground, hovers 20-30 feet above the ground for several minutes, but you won’t launch or fly away.
The festival is open September 22-25 and 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).
TICO Pilot: Craig Farrell Australia
AIRMADILLO COWBOY Pilot: Charlie Edwards Ft. Myers, Florida
ARIS Pilot: Jason Provost Hurst, Texas
AXEL Pilot: Craig Farrell Australia
BIG RED AGAIN Pilot: Joseph Calabrette Hickory Creek, Texas
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.
The H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival & Run will open one day early to celebrate the Plano Symphony Orchestra’s 40th 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.
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
The Plano Balloon Festival, Inc. has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Central Market Plano Balloon Festival that was scheduled for September 18-20. In these uncertain times, the Festival board and staff considered the health and safety of Festival attendees, volunteers, sponsors, vendors, and pilots a top priority. The Festival is extremely mindful of the large numbers of balloon pilots that come from all areas of the country, attendees drawn from the DFW area and beyond, supportive sponsors and vendors, thousands of volunteers, and on-site contractors. Providing a safe environment for everyone that visits the event is crucial. Safety has been at the forefront of the Festival from the very beginning and that will not change.
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