Experiences You Should Have Podcast: Show Notes

The Albuquerque balloon festival has been on our list for some time. My husband has an affinity for hot air balloons and has taken some great photos of them over the years and we thought the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta would be the perfect place to go to experience the hot air balloons. Listen to the episode above to hear the full experience.

My husband went one time to the fiesta years ago, but I, nor my daughter had ever been. We were so excited to go because this is one of the most photographed events in the world. The event spans about 9 days in Albuquerque, New Mexico every October. More than 500 balloonists gather at this fiesta from all over the world and join for mass ascensions, night glows, and flying competitions! All kinds of shapes and colorful balloons fill the sky and on the weekends when they do mass ascensions, it is a site that will put you in awe.

Photo by Gail Menasco

Weather at the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

Now how air ballooning is very weather dependent, and the

number one rule about coming to this festival is that you can’t get angry if

the winds and weather don’t agree with the hot air balloons. You can’t get mad

at the weather, so be happy that everyone is safe on the ground.

We decided to glamp (glamor camping) at the festival, so we could stay on festival grounds and not have to worry about early morning traffic. On the first day of the Balloon Fiesta this year, a few balloons took off at dawn called Dawn Patrol. It’s essentially still night time at 6ish in the morning, and an incredible sight to see the fiery glow from the balloons. Those first few balloons are checking the winds and are essentially the guinea pig balloons of the morning. If all is clear, the rest of the 500+ balloons will start to take off in waves.

Photo by Gail Menasco

The mass ascension didn’t happen on the first day we were there due to the weather. But remember, you can’t get mad at the weather. Instead, go eat a delicious breakfast burrito that the fiesta is known for. Blake’s offers some delicious breakfast burritos with hatch green chilis that are amazing.

Skydiving Demo Jumps at the Fiesta

Everything at the fiesta dies down for the afternoon, but later in the afternoon, we got to see Team Fastrax perform some skydiving demo jumps. I’m a huge fan of this team.

The Night Glow at the Balloon Fiesta: A Must-See Event

The first night of the Balloon Fiesta, was when I really

felt the magic of the fiesta. As the sky started to darken, balloons everywhere

started to inflate. The first one up was Canon (a large sponsor of the event),

but soon after balloons were everywhere.

I could hear the balloons burn the propane and soon I could feel the heat from balloons all around me burning. The balloons started to light up. None of these balloons took off at night but seeing hundreds of hot air balloons lighting up before my eyes gave my heart a warm glow.

That evening, I got to talk with a hot air balloon pilot from Texas, Bill Broker, the pilot of the Plano, City of Excellence hot air Balloon. Listen to the interview above. He inspired me to maybe become a hot air balloon pilot one day. Apparently there is a school you can go to in Albuquerque. Maybe that could be retirement plans…

What We Came For, the Mass Ascension at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

The next morning, we finally got to witness a mass ascension. We saw all kinds of balloons fill the sky includi...