Plano Balloon Festival

About this happenin

More than 30 hot air balloons, special shapes among them, gather on the launch field at Oak Point Park in Plano for the Plano Balloon Festival, four days each September from Thursday to Sunday. A nonprofit puts it on, funded in part by the City of Plano. Come at dawn or dusk. The balloons aren’t in the park between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., and the moments to catch are the morning launches on Saturday and Sunday and the balloon glow on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, when the pilots light the balloons up after dark. Tethered rides go up whenever the balloons are out. In between, there’s live music on the main stage, the RE/MAX of Texas parachute team dropping into the middle of the launch field, and inflatable rides and slides in the Kids Fun Zone, with free craft stations in the Kids Korner tent. Bring a blanket or chairs for the grass slope above the field, and leave pets at home, since the burners make a high-pitched sound that upsets animals. Admission is $10, $5 for kids 3 to 12 and seniors 65 and over, and free for children 36 inches and under. Parking costs extra.

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Where

Oak Point Park (Red Tail Pavilion) · 2801 E Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, TX 75074