The Plano Balloon Festival is expected to see thousands of visitors from Sept. 17-20.

Here's what visitors should know ahead of the event.

The gist: Visitors are advised to avoid Spring Creek Parkway while the festival, scheduled at Red Tail Pavilion, takes place because of traffic. The street will also be closed for drivers between Jupiter Road and Parker Road.

The festival's fireworks show has been replaced by a new laser show due to the current burn ban in Collin County. The show will provide a nighttime production while also prioritizing safety, per a festival news release.

Bavette Grill will close in mid-September after its lease ends.

The gist: The restaurant will close after 6 years in Plano, according to its website. Bavette Grill will continue to be in service until its closing date and is working to accommodate any future events through its sister restaurants, per a social media post.

• 8100 Dallas Parkway, Ste. 115, Plano

Texas does not have a single system to connect first responders in emergencies, meaning local and state agencies often operate on a network of radio systems that are not always compatible with one another.

The big picture: State leaders said there are more than 50 different radio systems used by first responder agencies across Texas.

"We have situations where counties and cities are on separate ones, and they never know it until they have to [communicate with] each other," state Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, said during a Sept. 14 legislative hearing.

Looking ahead: King has vowed to pass a bill to integrate first responder communications under a statewide system during the 2027 legislative session, with some emergency management experts calling interagency communications "the No. 1 issue" in the aftermath of disasters.

"[This] is not simply a communication issue—it's a responder safety issue and an operational effectiveness issue," said Kyle Mills, head of planning and preparedness for the Texas A&M Forest Service.