Plano Balloon Fest Schedule

[JLacy]

Friday, September 16
4:00 PM Festival Opens and Busses Begin Service
4:30 PM FM 544 in Concert on the Main Stage
5:30 PM RE/MAX Parachute Team Exhibition
6:00 PM Balloon Launch presented by RE/MAX
7:00 PM Verizon FiOS presents Emerald City in Concert on the Main Stage
8:00 PM Balloon Glow presented by the Villages of Lone Oak
8:45 PM Verizon FiOS presents Emerald City for a family fun-filled Street Dance

Saturday, September 17
6:00 AM Gates & Parking Lots Open and Busses Begin Service
6:30 AM Dawn Patrol "Wake up Plano"
7:00 AM Balloon Launch presented by the City of Plano
8:00 AM Mad Science Fire & Ice Show
8:00 AM Septien Entertainment Group Presents Paige Velasquez, Tyler Miller, Maddie Smith, and Emily Holt in Concert on the Main Stage
8:15 AM University of Gymnastics performs on the KDFW FOX4 Amphitheater Stage
9:00 AM Dance Zone & Sarasue's Academy Plano performs on the KDFW FOX4 Amphitheater Stage
10:00 AM GT Sport Taekwondo Demo Team performs on the KDFW FOX4 Amphitheater
11:00 AM Plano Dance Force and Miss Billye's Dance & Cheer performs on the KDFW FOX4 Amphitheater Stage
1:00 PM Extreme Danz performs on the KDFW FOX4 Amphitheater Stage
2:00 PM Cameron Coffey in Concert on the Main Stage
3:00 PM Chamberlain Musical Theatre Co. performs on the KDFW FOX4 Amphitheater Stage
4:00 PM Shufflin' Shoes Cloggers performs on the KDFW FOX4 Amphitheater Stage
4:00 PM hoopdolfin in Concert on the Main Stage
5:00 PM RE/MAX Parachute Team Exhibition
6:00 PM Balloon Launch presented by
Community Credit Union
7:00 PM Geoff Allen Band presented by 96.3 KSCS in Concert on the Main Stage
7:30 PM Special Shapes presented by Whole Foods Market
8:00 PM Balloon Glow presented by Medical Center of Plano
9:00 PM Spectacular Fireworks Show sponsored by Schepps, the Dairy Best

Sunday, September 18
6:00 AM Gates & Parking Lots Open and Busses Begin Service
6:30 AM Dawn Patrol "Wake up Plano"
7:00 AM Balloon Launch presented by the Dallas Morning News
8:00 AM Mad Science Spin, Pop, Boom Show
10:00 AM Dance & Cheer Company of Wylie performs on the KDFW FOX4 Amphitheater
11:00 AM Studio 3 Dance performs on the KDFW FOX4 Amphitheatre Stage
1:00 PM Impact Martial Arts performs on the KDFW FOX4 Amphitheatre Stage
1:25 PM Motion performs on the KDFW FOX4 Amphitheater Stage
2:00 PM Dance Depot & Storybook Children's Theater performs on the KDFW FOX4 Amphitheater Stage
3:00 PM EncouraGYM performs on the KDFW FOX4 Amphitheatre Stage
3:25 PM Dance Traxx performs on the KDFW FOX4 Amphitheatre Stage
3:30 PM Signal 2 Noise in Concert on the Main Stage
4:00 PM KJ Dance performs on the KDFW FOX4 Amphitheater Stage
6:00 PM Balloon Launch presented by Aetna
7:00 PM Festival Closes

Ongoing throughout the Weekend in the Allstate Kids Fun Zone
"Kid's Korner" Art Activities
Pony Rides
Petting Zoo
Radio Disney Racing Rig
Rock Climbing Wall
Face Painting
Inflatable Rides
Future Dates of the Balloon Festival
September 22-24, 2006


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[Joe_Lorenzini]

Thanks Joe! This will be perfect for starting a shootaround post.

_/oe

[JLacy]

Sure Joe, glad to do it. I spoke with the event coordinator yesterday. She's mailing me a media kit and if there are any changes in the schedule I'll update the group.

Plano will be more intense than HVBF. HVBF had 29 teams, Plano should have about 80 teams according to the coordinator. We are still at the mercy of winds but the good news is that Plano is further from DFW airport so there may be more flight options and not quite as dependent on wind "direction" as HVBF.

Parkng and entrance:
General Admission Entrance Fee
One time entrance ticket $4.00
Saturday Day Pass $6.00
Sunday Day Pass $6.00
Weekend Pass $15.00

Children under 36 inches tall are free.

Ride the DART Rail to the Festival Hop on the "Balloon Flyer" from Parker Road Station
Prime Parking at:
Collin County Community College Spring Creek Campus
Oak Point Recreation Center - Jupiter and Spring Creek Parkway
First United Methodist Church - Parker and Spring Creek Parkway

$10.00 per car plus per person entrance fee
Limited Handicap Parking Available

Off Site Parking
Plano Centre - 2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway
Cost: $5.00 per car plus per person entrance fee

[ShutteredEye]

Well nuts. Will be in Denver, CO at Red Rocks watching Keith Urban this weekend.

[AjP]

Robert, this is too bad, 'cause we'll have a blast once again :)

[JLacy]

Well Robert, CO is awesome too. Sunrises/sunsets near Colorado Springs with that red dirt can be very cool. http://www.coloradosprings-travel.com/ Shooting at Pikes Peak beats shooting in Plano imo.

You might check out Flagstaff, AZ too if you are driving through there.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/rec...l_colors.shtml

[Joe_Lorenzini]

For all who are interested, here's the web site:

http://www.planoballoonfest.org/

_/oe

[srwatters]

Darn it!!! I'm in Palm Springs that weekend! I missed it last year too for some reason or another. I'll just have to be happy with all the images I see here.

[cmalana]

I'll probably be there...and hopefully in time for a balloon glow!

[engstrom]

Unfortunately I'll be out of town too. I'm gonna be in Topeka, KS. Not exactly the world's best site for photography.

[JLacy]

Well, for those need a balloon fix, :)

Houston is this weekend at the Johnson space center. 100 balloons I'm told.

[QRasco]

I've never been to the festivel, but want to try my new D70 out on the action. Y'all have any suggestions of where to set up for the best shots and any other helpful tips.

[Gordon]

Shot at this last year - was a lot of fun!

Here's some pictures

Was a shame that it ended up pretty windy last year though, not so many flights.

This is probably my favourite:

[TxKent]

My brother and I are driving up on Saturday to do some stuff and plan on being there bright & early on Sunday morning. At 6am.

Now I need to figure out if I should bring my tripod - I'm supposing I should for the early morning shots. Just not sure I'm wanting to lug it around all day.

[Gordon]

Originally Posted by TxKent

My brother and I are driving up on Saturday to do some stuff and plan on being there bright & early on Sunday morning. At 6am.

Now I need to figure out if I should bring my tripod - I'm supposing I should for the early morning shots. Just not sure I'm wanting to lug it around all day.

The carpark is pretty close to the balloon field, so you could drop your tripod off I guess. From last year, things only really happen early morning/ late evening anyway - there is a fair going on, but most of the interesting events are at either ends of the day.