Plano Balloon Festival 2024 in Texas

Every September, Oak Point Park in Plano hosts a colorful hot air balloon event with lots of entertainment on two stages, food vendors as well as arts and crafts. The city of Plano is located 20 mi (32 km) northeast of Dallas. The main attraction of the Plano Balloon Festival is the spectacle of 40-50 colorful hot air balloons. Other highlights include a parachute team exhibition, balloon races, and a spectacular fireworks display. Runners can participate in Half Marathon or shorter runs: 10K, 5K, and 1K.

Plano Balloon Festival Entertainment

The family-oriented festival also offers a kids' zone and fun activities for all ages. The special shape balloons are always popular with children. Bimbo Bear, The New Tweetie, High Kitty, TeAmo, High Jack, Kermie, Simba, Shamrock, Puddy, Mr. Biddle, Owlbert Eyenstein, and Peg Leg Pete the Pirate Parrot are everyone's favorites. The most popular kids' rides include the obstacle courses, the huge slides, the pirate ship, and the berry-go-round. The littlest ones can be entertained in the “Toddler Zone."

Texas parachute team performs every day of the festival, skydiving from their plane over the festival grounds. Every night, the main stage and community stage feature Texas bands playing a wide variety of songs, ranging from country to Frank Sinatra. Finally, on Friday and Saturday, after it gets dark, visitors can watch a stunning Balloon Glow.

Festival Hours

Plano Balloon Festival runs on Thursday from 5 pm to 10 pm, on Friday from 4 pm to 10 pm, on Saturday from 6 am to 10 pm, and on Sunday from 6 am to 11 am.

Tickets

The general admission entrance fee is typically around $10 for adults and $5 for children aged three to twelve, and seniors aged 65 and above. Festival tickets are available for online purchase, usually starting in June, but the onsite option is also possible with no worries of selling out. Note that the tickets are non-refundable under any circumstances. Also, kids' fun zone wristbands must be bought separately—the price is $20.

Parking

Prime parking at Collin College Spring Creek Campus, Oak Point Recreation Center, or First United Methodist Church is $15 per car plus per person entrance fee. Offsite parking at Plano Event Center costs $10 per car plus per person an entrance fee.

Pet Policy

Inflated and launched balloons can cause pets to become anxious and agitated, so please leave your pets at home.