More than 30 hot-air balloons will lift off from Oak Point Park this weekend as Plano hosts the 47th annual Plano Balloon Festival, a four-day gathering that has grown from a small local fundraiser into one of the largest outdoor community events in North Texas. The festival runs Thursday through Sunday at the Red Tail Pavilion at Oak Point Park, 2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway, with balloon launches set for 7 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and evening balloon glows lighting up the sky Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
This year's event carries the theme “Shared Horizon,” meant to celebrate regional community connections across Collin County, according to Natural Awakenings Dallas-Fort Worth. As reported by Dallas News, the festival opens Thursday at 5 p.m. and runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. that day, followed by 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday, when the event wraps up.
Why Plano Claims the Title of Balloon Capital
Plano's connection to hot-air ballooning runs deeper than a single weekend event. In 1999, the Texas Legislature officially designated Plano as the “Hot Air Balloon Capital of Texas” through House Concurrent Resolution No. 181, per the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. That recognition traces back to the festival's start in 1988.
The festival routinely draws more than 100,000 visitors over its four-day run, making it one of the largest outdoor community gatherings in North Texas, per the Texas State Library and Archives Commission's statistics. It all takes place at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve, Plano's largest municipal park at 800 acres, which features nearly 13 miles of concrete and soft-surface trails along Rowlett Creek, according to the City of Plano.
What Sends Balloons Skyward — Or Keeps Them Grounded
Whether the balloons actually launch each morning depends heavily on the weather. Under Federal Aviation Administration safety guidelines and pilot discretion, hot-air balloon launches require surface wind speeds below 8 to 10 mph and clear atmospheric visibility, making wind conditions the primary factor for flight delays or groundings, according to Rohr Balloons. Saturday and Sunday launches are scheduled for 7 a.m.
During the evening balloon glows, pilots fire up their burners simultaneously to illuminate the balloons from the inside, creating a lantern-like effect across the park, per Dallas News. Attendees can also talk with balloon pilots on-site to learn more about hot-air ballooning throughout the weekend.
Rides, Rules and Family Activities
Tethered balloon rides will hover 20 to 30 feet above the ground for several minutes, costing $20 for children ages 6 to 12 and $30 for adults. Passengers must be at least 6 years old and have a signed liability waiver on file, with minors requiring a parent or legal guardian's signature on-site, according to the Plano Balloon Festival's event guidelines.
Beyond the balloons, the festival features a martial arts exhibition by the Shaolin Wu-Yi Institute, skydiving demonstrations by RE/MAX skydivers, and laser shows by Boom Special Effects. Live music comes from Midtown 10 Band, Ice House Band, the Plano Symphony Orchestra, and the Children's Chorus of Collin County, per Dallas News. Kids can also access the Kids Fun Zone with a $20 wristband.
Tickets, Parking and Getting There
General admission costs $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under and senior citizens, with free admission for children under 36 inches tall. Parking for the 2026 Plano Balloon Festival at Oak Point Park in Plano, Texas, costs $15 per car at Collin College Spring Creek Campus, First United Methodist Church and Oak Point Recreation Center, while parking at Plano Event Center costs $10 per car. Free festival buses also run from the DART station at Parker Road and Archerwood Street, according to Dallas News' event coverage.
A Non-Profit Engine for Collin County
Behind the spectacle, the festival operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, according to the Plano Balloon Festival. Local non-profits have fundraising opportunities during the four-day event.
Community organizations have fundraising opportunities through the festival. Corporate sponsorship has also played a role in sustaining the event.
The festival takes place at Oak Point Park. More information on this year's schedule, tickets and parking is available at planoballoonfest.org.
