You will balloon with excitement and joy once you hear about this! The largest ballooning party in the world is right around the corner, and you need to be there to witness it in person. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is an annual hot-air balloon festival around the first week of October in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. It is a nine-day event involving over 500 hot-air balloons participating yearly. As the fall season approaches and temperatures drop, the balloons in Albuquerque begin to rise. The colourful & many-hued balloons dot the sky like many paper lanterns floating in a stream of clear blue water. Witness the world from a different perspective as you, too, rise above the clouds and soar the skies in an unforgettable experience.
History Of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
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The tale of how the world’s largest ballooning event came into existence is quite amusing. It involves a radio station and a couple of go-getter bootstrapper men. On the 50th anniversary of the 96.3 KKOB Station in Albuquerque in 1972, the radio station manager Dick Mckee asked a flying service owner and his friend Sid Cutter if they could get his hot-air balloon to be a part of the festivities for the anniversary. The conversation led to them discussing what the largest gathering of hot-air balloons to date was and if they could surpass that. They called for flyers from all over the country – Arizona, New Mexico, California, Iowa and more places, and it came to be that 13 balloonists participated in the event.
They didn’t break the previously held record of 19 balloons in the first year but started a tradition of annual hot-air ballooning that has lasted more than half a century now. The fiesta has grown exponentially ever since then and is today the largest convention for such an event. In the early 2000s, the number of balloons reached more than 1000, which prompted a limit on the number of balloons to 500, with a focus on quality over quantity. The fiesta in its first edition held a “Roadrunner-Coyote Balloon Race” with balloons decorated like the Warner Brothers cartoon characters Roadrunner and Coyote. This balloon race, which combined the adventure of balloon racing with nostalgia and collective love for pop culture, was such a favourite with the crowd that it has continued to this day.
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Main Attractions Of Albuquerque Balloon Festival
1. Dawn Patrol
A very classic and essential event that takes place at the Albuquerque Fiesta is Dawn Patrol. As the name suggests, a few highly qualified balloonists light up their balloons and fly in the dark before the break of dawn. Atmospheric conditions change with temperature and sunrise and therefore visitors cannot participate in flying, but if you arrive early enough in the morning you can see twinkling orange-yellow balloons streaming across the sky. The glowing balloons, their movements and their lights are often choreographed to music leaving the viewers captivated. The Dawn Patrol also helps other balloonists and navigators gauge wind speeds and directional flow at different altitudes before starting for the day.
2. Special Shape Rodeo
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Half the fun at the fiesta is seeing all the non-traditional weirdly & uniquely shaped balloons that balloonists fly each year. Creativity and whimsy is at the forefront of this event. All the special shape balloons are launched at the same time and made to race against each other. This particular event started in 1989 and has since then become a staple event of the Albuquerque Air Balloon Festival as well as the most popular one. Two days out of nine are sometimes reserved only for these specially shaped balloons. You will see all sorts of silly shapes and characters including cows, bees, whales, Tom & Jerry, Hello Kitty, and many other beloved cartoons.
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3. Mass Ascensions
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The best thing to do at 5 am in the morning is being buried under your comforter in your warm bed. The second best is to head to the fiesta where people are gearing up to see the mass ascension of all the participating balloons. Reaching at 5:30 am for the 7 am show is recommended as it can get difficult to find a good spot with hundreds of thousands of people flocking to the fiesta. Hundreds of balloons are launched into the sky in a flurry of vibrant-hued balloons covering the morning sky in beauteous patterns. Launch directors dressed in black & white striped outfits, and therefore called Zebras, act as traffic cops and regulate the movements of balloons to avoid collisions and to maintain streamlining. The show is a spectacular display of airmanship, colour & music. The first balloon to be launched which leads all the other Albuquerque hot air balloons is decorated with the star-spangled banner, in red, white, and royal blue, the colours of the American flag. Mass ascension is one event that you absolutely must not miss while visiting the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
4. Concession Stands
An integral part of visiting any fair, be it your town fair, a crafts mela, or the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is visiting the concession stands and sampling all the delights available there. From snacks & finger food to hearty meals, you can have your lunch or dinner at the festival. From American classics like breakfast burritos to green chile cheeseburgers to New Mexican staples like sopaipillas, biscochitos (New Mexico’s state cookie), carne adovada, and more, it would be a crime not to try out all the yummy food. At the stands, you will also find souvenirs that you can take back home like Mini-air balloons, keyrings, stuffed toys etc that reflect the theme of the fair. Buy handmade arts and crafts straight from the artisans, and make sure to take a stroll down Main Street and experience all that Balloon Fiesta stands have to offer.
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5. Competitions
Life’s no fun without a bit of friendly competition, eh? Even better when there are prizes. At the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, you’ll see balloonists participating in various special events. Winners not only get prizes, but also bragging rights, and then next year the competition has even higher stakes for the win. One of the major events is America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, where balloons are inflated and launched, and the balloon to go the farthest wins. Some balloons have been known to reach as far as Canada. The Fiesta Challenge is a game where balloonists try to drop a marker as close as they can to the target.
6. Glowdeo
As the evening approaches, the excitement starts to simmer down again and visitors find cosy nooks to settle down and get ready for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Night glow. A large number of balloons are illuminated in the evening as it gets dark with the help of propane burners. Looking like massive jack-o-lanterns, the balloons stand static in their positions and do not take off during these events. It is a jaw-dropping sight and perhaps the most breathtaking moment of the entire festival. This event has been a part of Albuquerque’s annual routine ever since 1979. The Balloon Glow is followed by a magnificent fireworks display that lights up the night.
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7. Team Fastrax Skydiving
An exciting airshow also awaits you at Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, and that is a skydiving stunt show by Team Fastrax. They are a team of over 40 professional skydivers, many of them army veterans, who collectively have a count of more than 150,000 skydives. They have performed in many countries and at many balloon festivals, NASCAR, golf shows, etc. This is a recent fixture at the Balloon Fiesta. You can sit back and observe as the skydivers exit the aeroplane, and do crazy routines in the air together before slowly swimming toward you and descending to the ground.
Other Highlights
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The party’s not over, my friend. The above are not the only attractions at this fiesta. Many other exciting booth games, concession stalls, events, etc also attract visitors. Some of these include drone light shows that happen both in the early mornings and late evenings. Flight of the Nations Mass Ascension is an event where balloonists from different nations launch their balloons in synchronisation with their respective national anthems and unfurl their flags from the balloons. Music Fiesta is a crowd-pleaser as the fiesta invites artists for concerts and shows, and who doesn’t enjoy music. Chainsaw Carving Exhibition is another exciting event where visitors can see local artisans craft brilliant shapes & sculptures out of wood only with the help of their chainsaws. There is no dearth of fascinating stuff going around you at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. You’d be amiss to miss this.
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Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 2024 Dates
The festival takes place at the same time each year. It starts during the first week of October and goes on for a full 9 days. October is therefore a great time for tourism in the place. The locals & small businesses too depend on the Fiesta to bring in commerce in the city. The weather in the fall season is pleasant and slightly on the cooler side, so pack your clothes accordingly. One must check the dates and the schedule of events on the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta website carefully in order to take advantage of all that the festival has to offer.
Where To Stay In Albuquerque
There are many good hotels and resorts in and around Albuquerque where you can stay comfortably during your Balloon Fiesta tour in New Mexico. Some of them are Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hilton Garden Inn, Comfort Suites North Albuquerque, and Sandia Resort & Casino. Most of them are located really close to the Fiesta grounds and you can visit all the attractions at the festival conveniently.
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How To Reach Albuquerque
Albuquerque is pretty easy to get to no matter where in the world you are. Albuquerque International Airport, also known as the Sunport, is the main airport serving the state of New Mexico as it is the largest city in the state. Many domestic US-based airlines as well as international airlines serve the city. Flying from India can take up to 20-24 hours as America is one of the farthest countries from India, almost spherically opposite on the globe. From the airport, you can easily get taxis and local transit buses, or book yourself a Lyft or an Uber. From there, it is pretty easy to navigate the city and reach Alameda Boulevard where the fiesta is held annually.
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All set to embark on your journey to Albuquerque? Make sure you visit the city during October to experience the International Balloon Fiesta and the beauty, culture, and hospitality the city has to offer. Plan your trip to the USA around the many charming festivals that are celebrated in the fall season to make the most of your holiday.
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Cover Image Credit : Cathy for Wikimedia Commons
Frequently Asked Questions About Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Why is the Albuquerque Balloon Festival celebrated?
The festival came to be celebrated as a celebration of the city of Albuquerque itself, and the fact that it is home to a lot of flying companies and balloonists. It started in 1972 when while celebrating the 50th anniversary of the local radio station, the germ of an idea emerged about gathering a large number of hot air balloons and setting a record. Ever since the festival has been the largest confluence of hot air balloons in the world.
How much does it cost to get into the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta?
The general tickets to the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival cost 15 USD per person. Tickets for children aged 12 and younger are free of cost. A general ticket is valid for one session, be it the morning session or the evening events.
What are the best events to see during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta?
Some of the best & most exciting things to witness at the balloon festival are Mass Ascensions, the Twinkle Twinkle Glow Show, Special Shape Balloon Rodeo, Dawn Patrol, and Team Fastrax Skydiving.
What is the most photographed event in the world?
Albuquerque International Balloon Festival is the most photographed event in the entire world. The elegance and beauty on display at the Albuquerque Balloon Festival is rare to witness. Professional as well as amateur photographers from all over the world come to visit the largest confluence of hot air balloons and capture them for posterity in their camera reels.
Why is Albuquerque famous?
Albuquerque is a famous tourist place in New Mexico, USA. While it is primarily popularly known for its International Balloon Festival, there are several other interesting tourist places like Sandia Peak Tramway, Old Town, Albuquerque Museum, Petroglyph National Monument, and ABQ BioPark among others.
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Abhay Kumar is a graduate of English Literature. Writing is both his hobby and his passion. He writes academic research articles as well as poetry and short fiction. He loves reading science fiction, fantasy, literary fiction, and translated fiction. He also loves traveling and writing about himself in the third person.
