Lone Star Travelers Blog

The 29th annual Plano Balloon Festival will be held September 19, 20 and 21st 2008.  More than 70 balloons will ascend each evening at 6PM as well as Saturday and Sunday mornings at 7AM.  The balloon glow Friday and Saturday evenings at 8PM is a favorite of the crowd as balloons of all shapes and sizes inflate and fire up their burners glowing in a spectacular show against the dark night sky.  Sky Divers will preform Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 5PM jumping into the field at the viewing area in front of you.  On Saturday night at 9PM enjoy a spectacular fireworks display.  Other activities include a Kids Zone, a rock climbing wall, entertainment on the community and main stages, vendors featuring food, arts and crafts and other merchandise.   Balloon rides may be reserved with Air Venture Balloon (972-422-0212) for $250 per/person.  The festival opens on Friday afternoon at 4PM.  Stay and enjoy the street dance beginning at 8:45 PM.  6AM openings on Saturday and Sunday mornings for the early birds, 7PM Sunday evening will close the weekend.  Admission is $5 per/person (one-time admission) $8 per/person (two-time admission) or $20 for the weekend including all 3 days with a five-time admission.  Discounted tickets of $4 are good from 9AM-3PM only.  $1 discount for seniors 65 years and older and kids under 36 inches in height are free.  Parking is $10 per car, $5 off site or ride the dart rail from Parker Station to Oak Point Park.  More than 80,000 people are expected to attend.  www.planoballoonfest.org

The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is hosting a special event, the Nikon Small World Exhibit Aug 02nd - Oct 22nd 2008.  This exhibit displays 20 winning microphotographs taken through microscopes.  The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, 4 miles east of the town of Athens, Texas is a 107 acre site consisting of a visitor center, a production freshwater hatchery, 300,000 gallons of indoor and outdoor aquariums and educational programs.  Native fish, waterfowl, alligators and amphibians live in recreated habitats.  Scuba divers hand feed the fish in the tanks Tuesday-Friday at 11A.M., Saturdays at 11A.M. and 2P.M. and Sundays at 2P.M. in a show that allows visitors to ask the diver questions by way of a 2-way communication while underwater.  Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is the headquarters for the Budweiser Sharelunker Program allowing anglers who catch large mouth bass 13lbs and up to donate them for spawning purposes.  You are almost guaranteed to catch a fish when you through your line into Lake Zebco, a 1.2 acre pond stocked with channel catfish and sunfish year round as well as rainbow trout during winter.  Rod, reels and bait are provided at no charge.  The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is located 75 miles southeast of Dallas, Texas.  Admission is $5.50 per adult, $4.50 seniors 65 yrs and older and $3.50 children ages 4-12 yrs.  They are open Tuesday-Saturday 9A.M.-4P.M. and Sunday from 1P.M.-4P.m.  For more information call 903-676-2277.

Learn more about the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center