Balloons lift offBalloons lift off for a race across the Rio Grande Valley © John Suddath

New Orleans has Mardi Gras, Rio de Janeiro has Carnivale, and Washington, DC has the Folk Life Festival. Albuquerque’s annual event, The Balloon Fiesta®, also draws hundreds of thousands of visitors from all across the world. The festival is festive without being too boisterous, and it is very family friendly for children and adults alike. We didn’t observe a lot of internal security, but we saw no drunks or unruly behavior that is common to some of these other large festivals. It is held the 1st week in October and lasts 10 days and has been going on since 1972. Because of the spectacular opportunities for color and action, it is particularly attractive to photographers. That year was a “good” year with 500+ balloons and more than 800,000 visitors that provide a $100-million boost to the local economy. The previous year had more bad weather that reduced turnout, and the prior year had one fatality that put a damper on things.

The sky gets crowdedThe sky gets crowded with hundreds of balloons aloft at the same time. © John Suddath

Even an Imax video probably wouldn’t do justice to the visual impact of seeing hundreds of hot-air balloons lift off the launch field in early morning with the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the background. The vast expanse of the vivid colors and unique figures spread over miles as the winds carry them in formation. Albuquerque has a unique natural setting for balloons because of the “box effect” of the winds that is fairly predictable both in intensity and direction. Sometimes the winds are too strong, and specific events have to be cancelled for safety reasons, but visitors can count on there being enough wind so they are rarely disappointed.

The who, what, where, when is easily available on the official web site: balloonfiesta.com, so I will focus on my personal impressions of a personal visit. First, the festival draws a huge crowd so make hotel and airline reservations well in advance so that you won’t be disappointed. You can buy your tickets to each event at the gate, but parking is an issue. You have several options: riding a shuttle bus from a remote lot, paying for reserved parking, or buying the Gondola Club option that includes VIP parking. We bought the Gondola Club for one event but not for others. It’s worth it for the first time to get a lavish buffet onsite as well as a view overlooking the launch site so that you can see the panorama at a higher level, but you also need to get down on the field and walk among the balloons as they launch to feel the excitement.

Sandia Peak appears in the backgroundSandia Peak appears in the background at sunset © John Suddath

Officials recommend that you arrive early (4:30 - 5:30 am) so that you don’t get caught in the traffic and miss the 7:00 am launch. Since the launch goes on for two hours, we didn’t find it necessary to try to “beat the crowd,” and traffic control is excellent. Wherever you park, your visit will involve a lot of walking, so good shoes and warm clothing are mandatory.

Balloons inflated on the groundThe balloons are inflated on the ground and then launched under the direction of the staff © John Suddath

I was amazed at the clutter of people, equipment, and balloons crowded very closely together, and yet none collided as they filled their balloons and lifted off. Launch directors, also known as zebras because of their black-and-white-striped uniforms, carefully choreographed the lift-offs all over the field in seemingly a random pattern, but actually they scattered the launches rather than follow in uniform rows, so the congestion was hectic but manageable. Concessionaire and corporate booths surround the launch site so there are opportunities for a break as well as live entertainment during the day.

Fully inflated balloonThis balloon is fully inflated and ready for lift-off © John Suddath

Obviously, enthusiasts may want to stay the entire 10 days. Admission for each event (morning and evening) is separate but very reasonable in price so it’s possible to go to every event and still not break the bank. The events vary from day-to-day with a mass ascension on weekends and races during the week. In the evening, the balloons are lighted but usually don’t lift off, but the “balloon glow” is always followed by a spectacular fireworks show. The festival includes both hot-air and gas balloons and draws balloonists from all over the world. Be sure to include a visit to the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum that is immediately adjacent to the festival site in the northeast portion of the city adjacent to I-25.

Old Town AlbuquerqueOld Town Albuquerque is close to the river and the museum district. © John Suddath

Most folks take a break from the festival if they’re stay for several days and visit the historic Old Town area or make side trips to Santa Fe and Taos. A commuter train runs from Albuquerque to Santa Fe so it is possible to make the trip without a car. Visit these web sites for more details about city attractions visitalbuquerque.org and for statewide attractions see newmexico.org.

There are many other hot-air balloon festivals all across the United States and in many other countries, but this is the most spectacular of all of them. Don’t miss it!

by John Suddath This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.