Balloons over Texas

UP, UP AND AWAY While hot-air balloon events can be found all across the Lone Star State, the cities of Abilene, Canton, Longview, and Plano go all out and up each year. | iStock/ Getty Images

by Barbara Brannon

What lifts the spirit more than the sight of colorful hot-air balloons against a cerulean Texas sky?

Of course it’s possible to appreciate the spectacle from anywhere you might happen to spot a balloon in flight—but festivals and races broaden the experience to include lots more fun, sport, and artistry, and often to support a worthy cause.

A few Texas cities are known for major ballooning events. While Plano, which held its first rally in 1980 with fifty pilots, was proclaimed the Balloon Capital of Texas that same year, Longview claimed the same title starting in 1985. Gregg County (of which Longview is the seat) was named the Balloon Race Capital of Texas by the 83rd Texas Legislature in 2013. Plano opened its Oak Point Park, purpose-built for the balloon festival, in 2003.

How do balloons race, you might wonder, when they have no direct control of flight direction? First off, hot-air balloons are flown by FAA-licensed pilots. Unlike automobiles or aircraft, balloons don’t race to see who reaches a finish line fastest; instead, competitions like the “Hare and Hound” usually score how close a pilot can get to a pre-determined target, where small weighted markers are dropped. “Competition pilots have become quite skilled in reading the winds aloft and using them to their advantage to get where they want to be,” explains one website. “Competition directors have developed extremely complicated tasks for pilots to accomplish.”

Here’s a bit of background to help you make the most of the spectator experience.

On some of the major festivals’ websites, you can learn about the construction and operation of hot air balloons; history of balloons; and rules for a vari ety of competition events. If you’re interested in going up, you might shell out a few hundred dollars for a full flight— and you’ll need to reserve your spot in advance. But many festivals take guests a few feet up in a tethered flight, for a lot less—providing some great photo angles and a taste of being airborne.

Balloon glows, held at dusk when the colorful, translucent envelopes are inflated and brightly lit while gondolas remain on the ground, provide some of the most dramatic photo ops of the festival. Fireworks displays and parachute jumping competitions provide more great camera moments.

Balloon festivals are usually family-friendly, casual, and modestly priced; most events also charge a parking fee. Tickets can often be purchased in advance, allowing guests to bypass the box office and go straight to the admission gate.

Although balloon fests are usually held in large, open park spaces, bringing pets is strongly discouraged (or completely prohibited), as the loud noises from balloon burners can make pets anxious.

As for food, drink, and coolers, the Plano event’s website makes a good point: “We do not prohibit coolers; however, we do strongly discourage people from bringing them. Our mission is to provide nonprofit agencies an opportunity to raise funds and awareness for their programs and services.”

Blankets or lawn chairs are great for viewing balloon launches.

Dress for the season, and don’t forget sunscreen—as well as a compact flashlight for walking around after dark.

And since most of these events bring huge crowds to their cities, it takes a village of volunteers, vendors, and sponsors to pull any festival together. Staff must coordinate fund-raising, logistics, pilot registration, guest relations, photographer and media credentials, and much, much more . . . and keep a keen eye on the weather!

Be sure to thank your favorite pilots and all the other folks who organize these events for fun and sport.

BALLOONING Enthusiasts flock to the annual Balloon Festival in Plano.

Courtesy Visit Plano

FOREST TRAIL

Tailwind Regional Balloon Fest

FRIDAY–SATURDAY, JULY 10–11, 2020 First Monday Grounds, 800 1st Monday Lane, Canton, TX 75103 facebook.com/balloonfestcanton The Balloon Fest started at the Thompson Airfield in 2011, and soon moved onto the First Monday Grounds in Canton. Each year the festival highlights East Texas music with a Battle of the Bands competition on Saturday and the event opens on Friday night each year with live music, balloon glow, and vendors. Family fun activities include pony rides, bounce houses, climbing wall, car show and a 5K glow run on Friday night. Balloons compete in a sanctioned competition by the Balloon Federation of America. Tethered rides (during event) and full balloon rides are available by reservation.

Great Texas Balloon Race

FRIDAY–SUNDAY, JULY 26–28, 2020 East Texas Regional Airport, 269 Terminal Circle, Longview, TX 75603, (903) 753-3281 greattexasballoonrace.com; GTBR.net Every summer about fifty balloonists participate in the exciting competition. Other entertainment activities include live concerts, balloon tours, and flights. Balloon glows entertain spectators every night with a great display of color and excitement. Specially shaped balloons that look like Darth Vader, Master Yoda, Tall Steve, Claw’d and Neptuno appear at various locations in Longview. Friday’s competitive flights take place over the City of Longview and parts of Gregg County; Saturday and Sunday’s events take place at the regional airport grounds. Each morning the flight launch and targets are determined based on prevailing winds. The Gregg County Historical Museum includes a GTBR historical exhibit that illuminates the history of the GBTR.

LAKES TRAIL

Central Market Plano Balloon Festival & Run

FRIDAY–SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18–20, 2020 Oak Point Park, 2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, Texas planoballoonfest.org The Official Hot Air Balloon Capital of Texas hosts more than 90,000 attendees during Festival weekend, with ancillary events like Half Marathon, 10K, 5K and 1K road races, a Balloon Glow, entertainment and main stage performances, the Plano Symphony Orchestra Instrument Area, a fly-in competition, and photo opportunities. The major draw for this Balloon Festival will be the forty magnificent, colorful, hot air balloons. Twelve featured Special Shapes have participated in the past: The New Tweetie, Bimbo Bear, High Kitty, TeAmo, Kermie, Simba, Shamrock, Puddy, Mr. Biddle, Owlbert Eyenstein, Peg Leg Pete the Pirate Parrot, and the always popular High Jack.

FORTS TRAIL

26th Annual Big Country Balloon Fest

FRIDAY–SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25–27, 2020 Red Bud Park, 3125 S. 32nd St., Abilene, TX 79605 (325) 795-0995 bigcountryballoonfest.org This popular event, with food, craft and entertainment booths; children’s area with inflatables; pony rides, train rides, quad jump, and rock wall; performances; and tethered rides, benefits the local Optimist Club to support children in the Big Country.