"Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta" Albuquerque Travelogue by MarkJochim

The Kodak Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta - held over two weeks in early October - is the world's most photographed event. Every year, thousands of visitors descend on the city from all over the world in order to view the balloons. It truly is amazing when hundreds of balloons lift off in the early morning Mass Ascensions. The most I've seen at one time was over 800 in 2001.

(Mark Jochim, Oct. 1995)

You can see the balloons in the sky throughout Albuquerque - occassionally they will land on school playgrounds, grocery store parking lots, etc. It's easy to quickly use up a roll of film taking balloon pictures; after a while, many of the photos start to look the same so choose your shots carefully!

(Mark Jochim 10/5/98)

I especially enjoy going to Balloon Fiesta Park. True, traffic can be terrible so leave early and stay a bit later to avoid getting stuck. The Dawn Patrol lifts off each morning around 6:30 to test wind conditions. Often, these balloons will coordinate their burns - lighting up the envelopes - to create a nice show for the early spectators.

(Mark Jochim 10/5/98)

There's plenty to see and do in those pre-dawn hours before the balloons begin lifting off. There are many concession stands selling a large variety of hot food and drink, New Mexico arts and crafts, balloon collectibles (such as pins - very popular - caps and shirts, coins, etc.), and many other types of souvenirs.

U.S. Navy Balloon Team (Mark Jochim 10/5/98)

I highly recommend buying a breakfast burrito (with green chile) and hot cocoa and then scoping out a good viewing location on the field. Although there are picnic tables on the south side of the launching field (north of the concessions concourse), it's much more enjoyable to walk amongst the balloons being inflated. Albuquerque is the only major ballooning event in the U.S. that still allows you to do this. Just make certain you don't walk on somebody's balloon laid out on the ground or trip over any of the support ropes!

Mrs. Buttworth (Mark Jochim 10/5/98)

The "Special Shape" balloons are always very popular. You can see flying horses, pigs, giant syrup and whiskey bottles, even a huge Jesus sitting on a cloud. There are several events planned throughout the Fiesta exclusively for the Special Shapes, including a Mass Ascension and evening Balloon Glows.

RCMP mountie (Mark Jochim 10/5/98)

Most Special Shape balloons and many of the traditional ones provide advertising for a number of products. Several national and state tourism boards are getting into the act. One of my favorites is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police "mountie" and horse flown by Canada Tourism.

Michelin Man (Mark Jochim 10/6/98)

The Michelin Man was the tallest balloon at the 1998 Fiesta. There was also a huge (almost life size) Space Shuttle that year. Other interesting Special Shapes I've seen in the last several years included a Digiorno pizza, Energizer Bunny (foam pink bunny ears were given out by the ground crew), giant cow ("Clarabel" of the locally-owned Creamland Dairy), and various soda cans (mostly Pepsi products).

You just never know what you'll see when you go to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta...