Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Every October, for nine days beginning on the first Saturday of the month, the north end of Albuquerque becomes the center of the ballooning world. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta began in 1972 with just thirteen balloons in a shopping center parking lot as part of a radio station anniversary, and it now draws several hundred balloons from around the world, along with a crowd of hundreds of thousands. At dawn the field at Balloon Fiesta Park fills with pilots and crews inflating envelopes of every color, the burners roar in the cold air, and then the Mass Ascension begins, wave after wave of balloons rising in a procession that takes more than an hour to complete. It is one of the most photographed events on the planet, and it earns the attention. The Fiesta is much more than the dawn launch. In the evening, the Balloon Glow turns tethered balloons into glowing lanterns against the dark, the Special Shapes Rodeo brings balloons shaped like animals, cartoon characters and flying objects, and competitive events send pilots chasing targets across the city. Families wander the vendor rows, eat breakfast burritos and roasted green chile, and meet pilots who are happy to talk shop. Albuquerque's famous weather pattern, locally called the Albuquerque Box, helps make this possible: low-level winds tend to blow in one direction and higher winds in the opposite direction, so pilots can fly out, change altitude and drift back toward the field.

This entry links to a balloon flight offered during the festival period, which is the most direct way to get into the sky at Fiesta time, though prices run far above ordinary ride rates and spaces sell out well ahead. Most visitors experience the event from the ground, and that is a wonderful way to see it.

General admission to Balloon Fiesta Park is ticketed, parking is limited, and the organizers run park-and-ride shuttles, so plan transportation carefully and avoid driving to the field if you can. Check the festival's own site for tickets, schedules and rules before you travel.

Plan for cold. October mornings in Albuquerque can be near freezing before sunrise, and you will be standing outside in the dark for a while. Wear layers, gloves, a hat and comfortable shoes, then peel down as the sun warms the field. Arrive early for the first Mass Ascension of your stay, bring a thermos, and give yourself time to walk among the balloons as they inflate, which many people find even more magical than the launch itself.

Weather can delay or cancel flights, which is why some visitors build in two or three mornings. Hotels and rentals fill many months ahead, so reserve lodging as soon as your dates are firm, and consider staying north of Downtown or close to a shuttle route.

If you cannot be in town for the festival, balloons fly year-round from the same launch sites, and the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum next to the field tells the story of ballooning the other eleven months. Winter mornings and warm-season sunrises can also be spectacular for a flight. For Fiesta week itself, pack patience, expect traffic, and treat the event as a full-day outing that starts before dawn and can end with an evening glow.