Hi Linda, this is wonderful! I didn't know Plano had this festival, it must be great fun to be working at this event.  Thanks for sharing and thank you for joining the ActiveRain Rotarians group! 

How can I miss it? It is right down the street.

The 'Baloon Glow' at night is great for the kids.

Although I live in Northern Virginia I am an Albuquerque native and I'm "in tune" with balloons.  Is your funnel cake concession a major or minor fund raiser?  Those are great photos in your post.  Does your club have a balloon?

Linda, How fun! I would love to take my kids to see something like that.  Growing up in Wisconsin we would have balloons go over our house once in awhile, and I loved waving to the people.  I haven't seen any in the Myrtle Beach area, maybe wind is an issue?

Karen - I've never been to Albuquerque's balloon festival but I've heard it is so much bigger than Plano's.  Our event has hundreds of balloons but doesn't Albuquerque have thousands? 

Our Rotary club doesn't have a balloon but this is a major fundraiser for the club.  I think we make about $20,000 each year and then we are able to give this money back to the community!

Amy - It is so much fun to be at the festival and watch the balloons take off right in front of you.  And then the balloons come into land and they go right over your head.  I went to the festival for the first time 4 years ago and I was use to seeing one balloon at a time like you but it is really amazing to see a hundred balloon in a span of an hour or two!!

Great shots Linda! I've always stayed "outside" the venue and watched from another local - over by PESH on Los Rios and Parker Rd is good but once in a while it doesn't happen at all because of the weather and that's a real bummer! I love watching them float by.

The Balloon Festival starts today!!  I'll be working the Funnel Cake booth from 4pm - 10pm tonight so stop by and say "hi" or I'm working the early morning shift on Sunday!

Working the Funnel Cake Booth on Friday Night! 

Up, Up and Away

I don't see any pictures of the new Re/Max House balloon!!  Did you cherry-pick it out of the pictures?  JK!

Hi Linda, great photos and great looking smiling Rotarians! You must have had a ton of fun! S.

I survived it.,.... only had to avoid Oakpoint 4 times over the weekend. LOL

I wish the boys could have gone with their momma, but we had a full weekend.

Donna, I did see the new square Re/Max balloon.  It looked neat.  But no pics.  Sorry!  :-)

Silvia - We did have a great time serving up Funnel Cakes.  It amazing me how many people just love them.

Tom - You survived... until next year! 

AWESOME photos Linda! I was in FL over the weekend and missed this years, the weather looked perfect. Thank you for sharing!

Love the pictures!!!  I went hot air ballooning years ago in Napa Valley....what a wonderful experience!!!  Thanks for sharing your pics!

wow, that looks great the cow is my favorite.  But seeing that many balloons in the air is so great, I love balloon festivals.  Thanks for sharing.