Plano, Texas, is a vibrant city of roughly 275,000 people that's located just a half hour Northeast of Dallas. The city is a prime destination for your next getaway and features great parks, a fine selection of restaurants, and plenty of fun, large-scale festivals.
With over 70 different parks and preserves, you’ll find the ideal setting for your favorite things to do. The Arbor Hills Nature Preserve spans over 200 acres and showcases three distinct ecological regions including and Riparian Forest, Blackland Prairie, and Upland Forest. The park has more than eight miles of trails and walkways that are perfect for jogging, hiking, biking, and much more. Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve covers an impressive 800 acres and has great trails and beautiful vistas. It's also home to the Go Ape Tree Top Adventure. Go Ape is a multi-hour forest canopy adventure. You’ll use ziplines, swings, and platforms to explore the treetops of the beautiful preserve.
If you're a foodie, this is the place for you. While you’ll find restaurants serving up Texas favorites like Tex-Mex and BBQ, the city also lays claim to a wide spectrum of eating establishments. Whiskey Cafe is a popular local restaurant with a farm-to-table inspired menu. They feature a rustic inspired atmosphere, and a variety of hand crafted drinks. Kenny’s Smoke House brings you authentic Texas BBQ in a comfortable setting. The menu has culinary creations based on BBQ pork and brisket, as well as a multitude of drink options. Urban Crust offers you the chance to enjoy a variety of unique artisan pizzas, cooked in a wood fire oven.
Events and festivals in Plano offer something for everyone. The Plano Balloon Festival is the largest hot air balloon event in Texas and it's heading into its 37th year. The Festival is much more than a typical balloon event; it’s a massive celebration with over 100,000 people expected to attend. You’ll encounter more than 45 different hot air balloons, various live music acts, and plenty of festival fare. There will be four different competitive runs, including a half marathon, relay, 5K, and 1K. If you plan on attending with the entire family, make sure to visit the Central Market Kids Fun Zone. ResortsandLodges.com got the chance to interview Jo Via, Executive Director of the festival, to talk about this balloning spectacular.
RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event.
JV: This is the 37th year for the festival and we are expecting over 100,000 people in attendance.
RAL: What is the typical demographic makeup of the event? Children? Families? Couples?
JV: It is a split demographic. Approximately half are couples with small/young children and the other half are couples without their kids. This event appeals to all ages, from 2-year-olds to 102-year-olds.
RAL: What makes this event unique?
JV: The family friendly atmosphere and the opportunity to see 45+ hot air balloons in one place. The other component of the festival that sets us apart from others is our onsite partnership with 55 local non-profit organizations.
RAL: Take me through the activities of a typical day at the event.
JV: The activities begin at 7:00 am with the balloon launch (weather permitting). We host 1K and 5K races on Saturday that attract more than 2,000 runners with their families. On Sunday, we offer a certified half marathon that has 1,500 registrants. We have activities in our Central Market Kids Fun Zone and live music on our FOX 4 Community Stage each day of the festival. At 5:00 pm, the RE/MAX Skydivers perform, with the balloon launch following at 6:00 pm (weather permitting). At 7:00 pm, we have a concert on the KLUV Main Stage, followed by a Balloon Glow at 8:00 pm, and on Saturday there will be fireworks at 9:00 pm. The full festival schedule can be found on our website.
RAL: Will there be any guest appearances?
JV: Yes, Miss Texas will be here Sunday morning.
RAL: What dining options will there be?
JV: We will have a great selection of festival food. People will find all their favorite festival fare.
RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging?
JV: We have many hotel choices in Plano, some of which are featured on our website.
RAL: What does the event mean to the community?
JV: This is a signature event for the Plano community. Plano has been designated the Balloon Capital of Texas. With the festival providing 37 years of a wonderful family-friendly event, we are now seeing the next generation participating with their children. They attended as kids and now want to expose their kids to this wonderful community event.
RAL: Does the event support a special cause in the community? (School funds, etc.)
JV: The Plano Balloon Festival supports 55 local area non-profits, providing them with an opportunity to generate revenue and showcase local community programs. We provide a significant contribution to the Collin College Foundation, which gives scholarships to local students so they can attend Collin College.
RAL: Why should people come to your event?
JV: The opportunity to attend a family-friendly event that provides entertainment for the entire family is a unique experience. Attendees will be able to see over 45 colorful hot air balloons, listen to local bands in concert, view spectacular fireworks, and eat fantastic festival food. It is wonderful way to spend the weekend!
For more information about the Plano Balloon Festival, please visit their website.