Albuquerque—if you can spell it, then more power to you! This might be one of the few times that I’ve traveled for something other than food, but the Balloon Fiesta was a visual delight! Over 500 balloons and 650 pilots gathered on Balloon Fiesta Parkway for this annual display. According to some locals, the Balloon Fiesta is the official start of the fall and holiday season—and after 48 years, it’s still the city’s pride and joy. Upon viewing these massive bulbs of rain-jacket-like material, I couldn’t help but marvel in their simplicity and ingenuity. Think about the first person who was like, “If i tie this basket to this balloon and blow fire into it, maybe it will go up?” AND THEN THEY DID IT. Maybe they’re still up in the sky flying around wondering how the hell to get down. Here’s the low down!
Park and Ride shuttles begin transporting passengers to the Balloon Fiesta at 4 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. I feel like these are strategically placed at times where you’re starving for breakfast and freezing, and right before dinner and you’re hot and uncomfortable and there’s no shade in sight because you’re in a huge open field. All of that sounds like $$ to me! You can buy these tickets ahead of time online, and they are a great way to get to and from the site!
The 4 a.m. slot will get you to the Balloon Fiesta in time to view the “Dawn Patrol.” This is your first chance to see balloons inflate, light up and take off at the expense of sitting on dew-saturated grass and being very sleepy, cranky and cold. This is also a great time to get your hands on limited edition merch—pins and patches are a huge seller and stores open up for the early crowd!
There’s a set of balloons they call, “Special Shapes.” If the thought of seeing a big colorfully-patterned balloon launch in the sky makes you smile, imagine that it’s Darth Vader. Well, actually, you don’t have to imagine it because it happened. It’s real. Yes.
In the evening, the Balloons perform “Twinkle and Glow.” These are coordinated flames among all of the balloons on the ground as they twinkle like Christmas lights across the field. Against a dark navy blue sky: amaze.
Even more impressive was the firepower behind the balloons. Serious flame-throwing devices are used to project fire up into the canopies. A great heat source on a cold morning or night. Probably a great way to stay warm up there!
Although the weather conditions were not optimal for the morning’s mass ascension and a gust of wind blew down about 80% of the balloons during twinkle and glow, the Balloon Fiesta was such a fun experience that I can simply refer to as magical.
