For nine days in October, the New Mexico skies are painted as hundreds of balloons lift off from Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta Park. Whimsical special shapes and Balloon Glows create a magical landscape for spectators to wander. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will leave you awestruck and wanting more.
In October 2007 I had the awesome experience to attend the balloon festival. It was something I only heard about. I had the satisfaction of attending and photographing the event. Once again, it was anther trip that I took by myself as I traveled through a couple states and drove 12 hours straight to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Today, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is known worldwide as an event that emphasizes fun flying and camaraderie over serious competition. It’s ironic that the Fiesta got its start, in large measure, as an arena for that most serious of competitions, the World Championships.
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a world-renowned attraction and destination for kids of all ages.
For more than three decades, the first week in October brings the smell of roasting chiles and the beautiful, magical moving picture show of hot air balloons sailing silently through the crisp fall air.
Guests from all over the world come to Albuquerque to celebrate ballooning.
Literally hundreds of balloons will be taking flight from the Balloon Fiesta Park this year.
From its modest beginnings in 1972 with 13 balloons launching from a shopping mall parking lot, the Balloon Fiesta has grown to multiple events launching year-round at the custom-designed, 365-acre Balloon Fiesta Park.
Their signature event remains Balloon Fiesta—which, with over 600 balloons, is the largest ballooning event on earth, the most photographed event on earth, and the largest annual international event held in the United States.
Imagine 54 football fields, all put together.
That’s the size of Balloon Fiesta Park’s 78-acre launch field! And at this Park’s “playing field,” there are no losing teams and no viewing stands. Guests walk the field and are part of the action.
Hundreds of thousands of smiling, upturned faces, awestruck by the spectacular beauty of hot air balloons filling the big blue New Mexico sky.
What you can’t hear until you walk our field at nightfall is the thrilling roar of hundreds of burners simultaneously igniting, turning the Park into a huge lighted Christmas tree of colorful balloons.
What you can’t feel until you join us is the massive joy everywhere around you.
The Special Shape Rodeo is two days where special shape balloons are showcased at Balloon Fiesta. Special Shape balloons are the only ones that will launch from Balloon Fiesta Park on those mornings (the standard shape balloons will fly into the park) and will also have a “Glowdeo” in the evening
A “Glowdeo” is a static display of the Special Shape balloons. Special Shape balloons can be shaped into almost anything you can imagine. Some examples include a stagecoach, piggy bank or a cow.
All 700+ balloons should be launched in less than two hours.
Pilots compete in Blackjack, Key Grab, Balloon Fiesta Golf, Multiple
Judge-Declared Goal, Fly-in Task, Minimum Double Drop and a Prize Grab.
All competitions are based on flying accuracy rather than speed.
Balloon Fiesta Park is over 360 acres. The launch field is over 80 acres itself.
The magic hour of twilight, dawn or dusk, create beautiful lighting opportunities where the warmth of “Balloon Glow” blends with the velvet blue of muted skylight. Photographers call this “the jewel box effect”.
Twilight and night are low levels of light which require high speed film.
The Balloon Glow is the original, occurs on the first Sunday night, and usually has a few more balloons.
The Night Magic Glow occurs on the second Saturday night.
For evening events, bring a flashlight. Also, take note of where you have parked your car. It may be more difficult to find it in the dark.
I hope you enjoyed seeing the photographs from my trip to Albuquerque’s International Balloon Fiesta.
Anthony Lujan Photography
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