Plano Balloon Festival adds laser show, live music and skydivers for Sept. 17-20 weekend

The 2026 H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival returns to Plano, Texas, Sept. 17-20 with live music, skydiving exhibitions, family attractions and a new laser show replacing fireworks. The lineup is meant to keep the four-day event active between balloon launches while safety concerns and dry conditions rule out traditional fireworks.

Why it matters: - The Plano Balloon Festival is building a full weekend experience around its balloon activity, giving families more to do across the festival grounds. - A new laser show replaces fireworks this year because of continued dry conditions and the current burn ban, keeping the nighttime finale in place without adding fire risk. - The festival remains one of the region’s major community events, with more than 40 hot air balloons and special shapes scheduled to take part.

What happened: - The 2026 H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival runs Sept. 17-20 at Red Tail Pavilion / Oak Point Park, 2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway in Plano. - The festival opens Thursday, Sept. 17 at 5 p.m. and continues through Sunday, Sept. 20 at 11 a.m. - FOX4 returns as Main Stage sponsor, with live music and community performances scheduled throughout the weekend. - The RE/MAX of Texas Parachute Team returns with skydiving exhibitions at 6 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. - Boom Special Effects will present a new laser show instead of fireworks.

The details: - Thursday’s Main Stage lineup includes the Plano Symphony Orchestra Big Band at 7:30 p.m. - Thursday evening also includes the RE/MAX of Texas Parachute Team and the first scheduled Balloon Glow of the weekend. - Friday features Midtown 10 with performances at 6:30 p.m., 8:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. - Saturday’s daytime schedule includes the Plano Community Band at 8:30 a.m., the Children’s Chorus of Collin County at 9:30 a.m., Fusion Performance Company at 10:30 a.m. and Shaolin Wu-Yi Institute at 11:30 a.m. - Saturday evening brings Ice House Band, presented by Baylor Scott & White Heart Hospital, with sets at 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 8:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. - Balloon Glows are scheduled Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, weather permitting. - Morning Balloon Launches are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at 7 a.m., weather permitting. - The festival theme is Shared Horizon. - The Central Market Kids Fun Zone includes obstacle courses, giant slides and rides such as monkey mayhem and smokey the bear. - All-day ride wristbands and individual ride tickets are available. - Kids Korner offers free hands-on arts and crafts activities. - Guests can also take tethered hot air balloon rides, visit vendor booths and sample festival food.

Between the lines: - The addition of a laser show signals a practical adjustment to weather and burn-ban restrictions, while keeping the evening entertainment package intact. - Festival planners are leaning into variety on the ground, with music, culture, rides and family activities filling the time between balloon events. - The schedule suggests the festival is aiming to broaden its appeal beyond balloon fans to families and general weekend attendees.

What's next: - Festival organizers say balloon activity, including launches, glows, displays and tethered rides, will remain weather dependent. - Attendees can check the complete entertainment schedule, balloon activity times, parking information and tickets at festival details. - Plano Balloon Festival, Inc. says it has donated more than $3 million since inception through support for participating nonprofit agencies.