Every year there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of events held all around the DFW Metroplex. In September each year, Plano has hosted its annual Plano Hot Air Balloon Festival. It promises food, music, lights and, of course, hot air balloons.
However, as this year’s attendees of the festival quickly realized, the balloons were few and far between. Still, alternatives were found, and those at the festival were still able to listen to music as they sat on picnic blankets and fold-up chairs.
The entertainment venues at the festival consisted of music and commentary on the hosted FOX stage. The music included Plano Symphony Orchestra, Party Machine band, and Ice House band. With witty commentary to fill in the excess time, people enjoyed themselves, setting up picnic spots all over the Plano campus of Collin College.
And music was not the only entertainment offered. Ninja courses were set up for kids and adults and a wide variety of food trucks and entertainment stands kept the crowd busy as they watched for the hot air balloons.
It was difficult for some to stay cool as the temperatures skyrocketed into the upper 90s, so the festival kept EMTs and other medical responders on hand ready for any medical emergencies. No casualties were reported, but some experienced heatstroke, and other over-exertion related symptoms.
As the crowds continued to wait, the balloon launches kept getting delayed.
The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) regulates that the wind speeds must be 8 mph or less in order for the balloons to be ignited and launched. Because of this, there hasn’t been a full launch since 2016. However, there have been some exceptions, featuring pilots who demonstrated extreme skill. They were allowed to take off, but only for a limited time, and they could not travel further than about 50 feet off the ground, lest the tethers become undone.
Despite this, the hosts of the event had come up with fun alternatives to the balloons, so that the event wouldn’t be a complete blowout. The pilots lit the burners on their baskets, without the balloons in an epic display of light and fire, heating the air and dazzling onlookers as they watched the show.
That wasn’t the only change made to this year’s festival. Most years the Plano Balloon Festival will feature a fireworks finale on the final night as a way to conclude festivities. Due to an ongoing burn-ban in Collin County, the fireworks show was replaced by a Guinness World Record winning drone show, featuring 200 drones and countless designs.
Although the Plano Balloon festival may not have showcased any real balloon launches, there were a host of other activities and events that took place, making sure that the festival wasn’t just full of hot air.
