plano balloon festival 2009

The EDS Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival lifts off Friday to celebrate its 30th year of providing safe, family fun to the North Texas area and as one of the most anticipated events of the year.The festival serves as one of the area’s most successful fundraisers for area non-profit groups and organizations. The small community event that began in 1979 has blossomed into a huge event. Through the years, the festival has generated more than $2 million to benefit area non-profits.“This is our 30th birthday this year,” said Jo Via, festival executive director. “From children’s activities to [number of] port-a-potties, everything we’ve done for the festival has gotten larger -- increased number of food and merchandise vendors, increased number of participating non-profits, increased population.”The first Plano Balloon Festival took place in 1979 as a small community event sponsored by the Plano Chamber of Commerce and coordinated by the Chamber’s Women’s Division and the Plano Ballooning Association.Randy Wright, president of the Plano Chamber of Commerce at the time, had purchased a hot air balloon to promote his real estate business. He was taking lessons to receive his pilots license when his instructor suggesting having a balloon festival.“I said, ‘That’s a great idea! What is it?’” Wright recalled. “He told me and I knew immediately that it was something we can do.”Wright presented the idea to Jim Marshall, director of the Balloon Academy of Texas, and Markita Thompson, director of the Plano Chamber of Commerce Women’s Division.