Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Clear azure blue skies.  A crisp autumn breeze in the dry desert air.  And over 500 colorfully and creatively decorated hot air balloons dominating the New Mexico skyline.  It’s not a dream, it’s the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta! 

History & Background
The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta began in 1972 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of local radio station 770 KOB Radio.  The first Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta was a modest event with 13 hot air balloons, and over the years has grown into an international event and the largest hot air balloon festival in the world with 550 hot air balloons scheduled for this year’s multi-day event.  Approximately one million spectators are expected to visit the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta over the course of the festival in what is boasted as the most photographed event in the world.

When & Where
The 2019 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will take place over nine days, from October 5th – 13th.  The cool fall weather and wind patterns called the Albuquerque box make for ideal conditions for hot air ballooning and the picturesque Rio Grande Valley makes the perfect backdrop for the hundreds of colorful hot air balloons filling the sky. 

The multi-day event kicks off at Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Morning balloon events generally start around 6:00 am with a series of events that take place throughout the day. 

Here are some of the main events and highlights of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta:

Dawn Patrol
The Dawn Patrol is when balloon pilots using special lighting gear to see in the dark launch before sunrise.  The Dawn Patrol is a beautiful sight to see taking off pre-dawn, but it also helps pilots learn about wind speed and direction before the later launches.  

Mass Ascension
The most popular event of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the mass ascension.  The mass ascension begins around 7:00 am on multiple mornings and is when all of the hot air balloons launch in a massive coordinated effort.  Hundreds of hot air balloons in different colors and designs fill the skies above Albuquerque.

Twilight Balloon Glows
During the evening, stationary balloons are illuminated in the twilight by the burners of the hot air balloons.  As with the rest of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the Twilight Balloon Glow events in the evenings are a great photo opportunity.

Special Shape Rodeo
Kids Day is on October 10, 2019 and will feature different events aimed towards children.  Another one of the most popular events is the Special Shape Rodeo which has hot air balloons in unique and funny shapes and characters. 

Other Events
In addition to the hot air balloon launches and events, each day of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has a variety of side events that take place.  The whole family can enjoy events for all different ages.  There is everything from chainsaw carving exhibition and auction, a sky diving show, a photo contest, a car show, music performances, and a fireworks display. 

For a full schedule of events and additional information about the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, visit the official website at: https://www.balloonfiesta.com/

Here are a few trips that focus on the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

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