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30th annual EDS Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival soaring to see new heights
By Kim Nguyen, knguyen@acnpapers.com
Last weekend’s rain and soggy weather did not discourage festival officials from continuing to schedule an action-packed weekend for the 30th annual EDS Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival.
“The weather is forecasted to be beautiful for the upcoming weekend,” said Jo Via, executive director of the festival. “If anything, the rain has made the grass greener for us.”
Scheduled to start with a bang on Friday afternoon, the annual balloon festival has become one of the most anticipated events of the year. With more than 80,000 people attending annually, the festival has helped put Plano on the map as the Hot Air Balloon Capital of Texas.
“This is our 30th birthday this year,” she said. “From children’s activities to port-a-potties, everything we’ve done for the festival has gotten larger -- increased number of food and merchandise vendors, increased number of participating non-profits, increased population.”
While supplies last, Costco will provide free birthday cupcakes to festival goers Friday afternoon to celebrate the festival’s 30th birthday.
Vendors from Plano and surrounding communities will provide a feast of mouthwatering festival foods, including funnel cakes from the Plano West Rotary Club, Dickey’s famous barbeque, Conway’s great corn dogs, B.C. Kettle Korn and Henry’s Homemade Ice Cream.
Ongoing throughout the weekend in the State Farm “Kids Fun Zone” are the KDFW FOX 4 Community Stage, Children’s Medical Center “Baby Breakroom” changing and feeding station, free “Kids Korner” make-and-take art activities, rock climbing wall, inflatable rides, face painting, sand art and the Plano Symphony Orchestra Instrument Petting Zoo.
The EDS Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival schedule is as follows:
- Friday -- Plano ISD Go and Glow Night
- 4 p.m. Festival opens and bus service begins
- 5 p.m. RE/MAX Parachute Team exhibition
- 6 p.m. Balloon launch presented by RE/MAX
- 7 p.m. Elliott's Hardware presents the “Killdares” in concert on the KLUV Main Stage
- 8 p.m. “Lite up the Night” with the new lite KVIL 103.7 FM Balloon Glow
- 8:45 p.m. Family fun-filled street dance with the “Killdares”
- Saturday
- 6 a.m. Gates and parking lots open and bus service begins
- 6:30 a.m. Dawn Patrol “Wake up Plano”
- 7 a.m. Balloon launch presented by the city of Plano
- 5 p.m. RE/MAX Parachute Team exhibition
- 6 p.m. Balloon launch presented by EDS Credit Union
- 7 p.m. “Good Question Band” in concert on the KLUV Main Stage
- 8 p.m. “Lite up the Night” with the new lite KVIL 103.7 FM Balloon Glow, presented by “Take A Load Off, Texas” program provided by Oncor
- 9 p.m. Spectacular Fireworks Show
- Sunday
- 6 a.m. Gates and parking lots open and bus service begins
- 6:30 a.m. Dawn Patrol “Wake up Plano”
- 7 a.m. Balloon Launch presented by The Dallas Morning News
- 5 p.m. RE/MAX Parachute Team exhibition
- 6 p.m. Balloon launch presented by State Farm Insurance
- 7 p.m. EDS Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival closes
The EDS Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival will take place at Oak Point Park, located at 2801 E. Spring Creek Pkwy. Parking lots will be open at the Collin County Community College Spring Creek Campus at the intersection of Jupiter Road and East Spring Creek Parkway, and at the First United Methodist Church at the intersection of Parker Road and East Spring Creek Parkway. Off-site parking is available at Plano Centre for $5 per car.
Participants are also encouraged to ride the “Balloon Flyer” bus from Parker Road DART station. Buses will run continuously from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tickets for the EDS Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival are $5 per person, $8 per day, $4 per person with discounted admission from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and $1 for seniors aged 65 and older. Children under 36 inches are admitted for free.
For information, visit www.planoballoonfest.org.
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