Major Texas event
H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival
September 17–20, 2026 · Plano, Texas · Collin County
Why plan around H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival?
The Plano Balloon Festival is a four-day North Texas destination event built around scheduled hot-air-balloon launches and glows, live entertainment, family attractions, food and a long-running nonprofit festival tradition in Collin County.
Verified event details
Organizer: Plano Balloon Festival, Inc. ↗
Verified admission options
Official-source details checked 2026-09-03. Ticket prices and lineups can change; confirm the linked official source before purchasing or traveling.
Plan the visit
Use September 17-20 as the confirmed 2026 festival window
The organizer publishes festival operating hours for Thursday, September 17 through Sunday, September 20, 2026 at Oak Point Park. Thursday and Friday are evening-focused, Saturday runs from early morning through night, and Sunday closes after the morning program.
Treat balloon activity as weather-dependent
The organizer explicitly warns that launches, displays, glows and tethered rides can be restricted by wind or adverse weather. Build the trip around the festival weekend, but check the same-day official schedule before counting on a specific balloon activity.
Plan arrival around the program you value most
Morning balloon launches, evening glows, fireworks, stage entertainment and family attractions occur at different times. Review the official schedule before choosing parking and arrival time rather than assuming every marquee activity runs continuously.
Keep exploring
- Explore Collin County — Build more Plano and Collin County stops around the festival.
- Great Texas Balloon Race — Compare another major Texas hot-air-balloon destination event.
- Texas events calendar — Compare other fall festivals across Texas.