As excited as you are to hear about our morning at the balloon fiesta, let us first begin with a little bit of history:
The Balloon Fiesta is a tradition the first week of October every year in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The very first fiesta happened back in 1972 with a grand total of 13 balloons. As long as it doesn't rain, New Mexico in October tends to have to absolutely perfect weather for the balloons. This cold but dry weather helps hot-air balloons rise since the temperature inside the balloon is able to be heated much warmer than the ambient air. Evidently it took a few tries to decide on the month of October. The first few Balloon Fiestas took place in the time frame of February to April. During these months, a random snowstorm almost always hits at least once and the ferocious wind can be at it for weeks at a time. The decision was made to officially move the Balloon Fiesta to October. And this meant that during the year of 1975, two balloon fiestas were held rather than allowing 20 months to pass in between festivals.
Our day at the Balloon Fiesta:
We began the day bright and early (well... maybe not so bright, but certainly early!) at 5:00 in the morning. We threw on jackets and hats and ate a quick breakfast burrito. Following this, we hopped on our bikes and rode on. From past years, I had learned a thing or two about the traffic associated with the balloon fiesta (see "A Few Tips" below) and I was excited to pass a ton of cars on my bike because I was sure the cars would be backed up bumper to bumper waiting to turn into the parking lot at the fiesta. I had read about the free bike valet service and was excited to try it out.
Our first stop on the bikes was to the neighborhood Krispy Kreme doughnut shop! It is a family tradition of mine to have these delicious, mouthwatering doughnuts on the day of the Balloon Fiesta.We got a half of a dozen rather than a dozen because that box fit better into the backpack. Look at us... we made two healthy choices already: riding bikes instead of driving and buying only half as many doughnuts as we wanted to!
The bike trip took us about 25 minutes from Alameda and Corrales Road. We learned that the bike lane is wide enough (until it disappears after 2nd street--then you jump onto the bike path) and is preferable to the sidewalk which seems to wander everywhere. The hardest part of the ride was the last, steep hill right before we got to the park. By that point, I was thinking I had over-dressed with a hat. a scarf, and 3 jackets. We finally parked our bikes and I started stripping off some layers.
We got tickets and went out onto the field just in time for the launch of the dawn patrol balloons. These are a few balloons which launch while it is still dark and they stay in the air until it is light enough to be able to safely land. They help the rest of the balloonists to know what the wind conditions are like at various heights. They are fun to watch because anytime the pilot turns on the fire to heat the air in the balloon, the whole balloon glows brilliantly, as this photo shows so well:
We recorded a few seconds of the Dawn Patrol Show, which are the balloons that don't end up launching in the morning. Here is what that looks like from the ground:
Total Money Spent for the Two of Us:
Entrance to the Balloon Fiesta Park: $8 each
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts: $7
Funnel Cake: $7
=$30 total
A Few Tips:
Having grown up in nearby Rio Rancho, I have been around the Balloon Fiesta for my whole life. I have seen the fields change from dirt in the 90s to grass at the present. I have seen the building of the Balloon Museum nearby (though I still haven't been there... that will be a story for another day!). I have even been on a balloon crew for the Wells Fargo Stage Coach multiple times. On the other hand, this was Orrin's first time ever going to the balloon fiesta. He was in Albuquerque last year, but his schedule prevented him from being able to go. This year, we were determined to go and we made our schedules align!
Comment below about which is your favorite hot-air balloon!!
Our day at the Balloon Fiesta:
We began the day bright and early (well... maybe not so bright, but certainly early!) at 5:00 in the morning. We threw on jackets and hats and ate a quick breakfast burrito. Following this, we hopped on our bikes and rode on. From past years, I had learned a thing or two about the traffic associated with the balloon fiesta (see "A Few Tips" below) and I was excited to pass a ton of cars on my bike because I was sure the cars would be backed up bumper to bumper waiting to turn into the parking lot at the fiesta. I had read about the free bike valet service and was excited to try it out.
Our first stop on the bikes was to the neighborhood Krispy Kreme doughnut shop! It is a family tradition of mine to have these delicious, mouthwatering doughnuts on the day of the Balloon Fiesta.We got a half of a dozen rather than a dozen because that box fit better into the backpack. Look at us... we made two healthy choices already: riding bikes instead of driving and buying only half as many doughnuts as we wanted to!
The bike trip took us about 25 minutes from Alameda and Corrales Road. We learned that the bike lane is wide enough (until it disappears after 2nd street--then you jump onto the bike path) and is preferable to the sidewalk which seems to wander everywhere. The hardest part of the ride was the last, steep hill right before we got to the park. By that point, I was thinking I had over-dressed with a hat. a scarf, and 3 jackets. We finally parked our bikes and I started stripping off some layers.
We got tickets and went out onto the field just in time for the launch of the dawn patrol balloons. These are a few balloons which launch while it is still dark and they stay in the air until it is light enough to be able to safely land. They help the rest of the balloonists to know what the wind conditions are like at various heights. They are fun to watch because anytime the pilot turns on the fire to heat the air in the balloon, the whole balloon glows brilliantly, as this photo shows so well:
We recorded a few seconds of the Dawn Patrol Show, which are the balloons that don't end up launching in the morning. Here is what that looks like from the ground:
At 7:00 am, the American Flag and the Sponsor of the Day's balloons launch. This officially marks the beginning of the Mass Ascension.
From that point, hundreds of balloons are little by little launched over the next 1-2 hours. Balloons are allowed to take off under the direction of the Zebras (balloon referees), who make sure the area and the sky are clear and safe for the balloons. Just as no two zebras have the same stripes, the Zebras of the Balloon Fiesta collect black and white clothing and accessories throughout the year, which make them wholly unique.
From that point, Many hot-air balloons quickly begin filling up and taking off.
Some of the special shape balloons take quite a bit of time to fill up all the areas. With the balloon below, you can see the progress as it filled. We couldn't tell what was in its teeth until it finally inflated fully. The hook for a long time just looked like a pile of duct tape that was used to patch a hole!
The balloons keep on launching and launching and launching....
Even on normal days, like the morning we went this year (aka-- days that are not solely Special Shapes), there are still many special shape balloons that launch. The Creamland Cow is one of the most famous special shapes.
You can go around collecting Balloon Trading Cards from individual balloons. The cards are free you just need to be near the balloon around the time it takes off! Unfortunately not every balloon team has a trading card. =[
Collectors can also get pins, though these are not free (unless you are a part of a balloon crew). There is also the option to trade pins with others. This takes place on certain Saturdays or Sundays. Check the events calendar at www.balloonfiesta.com to find out when that takes place. The balloon museum also has pins for sale and that is right next to the balloon fiesta park. Here's the link to our blog on the museum http://theplaceswevebeen.blogspot.com/2015/11/albuquerque-balloon-museum.html
You can also wander around the strip of concession stands and tents. We loved chatting with people in the NASA tent. We learned that balloons have been launched on Mars and Venus! Fun Fact: balloons launched on other planets use different material. My favorite tent was the Arts and Crafts tents filled with people selling their original artwork. crafts. and other homemade supplies.
In one of these tents, there was a 7-11 stand set up. They were giving away free small slushies. Plus, you could spin a wheel. Your free prize was whatever the wheel landed on. Orrin won a free 64 ounce fountain drink to be picked up at an Alon gas station. I spun the wheel and immediately got distracted with trying to decide what flavor slushie I should get. Suddenly I was startled by a loud DING DING DING noise. I looked back at the wheel and discovered that I won $5. That five dollars was in the form of a paper I can bring to an Alon store and get something worth up to that much. I felt like a huge winner! Next road trip that will buy powdered doughnuts and chocolate milk, an absolute necessity.
The final adventure before returning home was searching for the cheapest funnel cakes. Going into it, we were hoping to find a funnel cake for $6, the same price that we were able to get at the state fair. The first place we stopped by were selling them for $8. Eeek. That was a little high for us. We stopped at another place. $9. Even worse!! The cheapest we were finally able to find was $7 total, so we bought one of those and shared, unfortunately the people who made the funnel cake used the same oil to fry chicken and whatever else they were cooking, so our funnel cake came out tasty slightly chicken which wasn't the best.
Total Money Spent for the Two of Us:
Entrance to the Balloon Fiesta Park: $8 each
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts: $7
Funnel Cake: $7
=$30 total
A Few Tips:
- One year during college, I was driving to the fiesta from Southeast Albuquerque. Traffic was so slow along the I-25 toward the balloon fiesta that 7:00 am (the time of the mass ascension of balloons) was approaching and we were still nowhere near the park. We pulled off on Paseo del Norte and watched the balloons from the foothills of the Sandia Mountains instead. The lesson from this is to wake up early because traffic will be bad. Generally, waking up between 4:00-4:30 is safe.
- Traffic is worse on Special Shapes days and the weekend. Fewer residents of Albuquerque tend to have work on these days so they are much more likely to come to the fiesta. We went on a Wednesday morning and I was shocked that traffic was flowing as well as it was.
- An alternative to driving is using the Park & Ride system for the Balloon Fiesta where you park at one of the designated parking lots in shopping areas around the city. For a fee, a bus will pick you up and take you to the park. In formation about this option can be found here: http://www.balloonfiesta.com/guest-guide/park-ride.
- Try riding your bike! We did that for the first time this year. There is a free bike valet system on the grounds of the Balloon Museum. The exercise will warm you up and wake you up.
- If you don't like waking up ridiculously early, some nights have a balloon glow where balloons won't fly but they will inflate and use their fire to glow. These nights also have the laser light show, all the normal concessions, and fireworks-weather permitting. Check at www.balloonfiesta.com for the event schedule.
The Balloonist Prayer:
May the winds welcome you with softness.
May the sun bless you with its warm hands.
May you fly so high and so well
That God joins you in laughter
And sets you gently back
Into the loving arms of Mother Earth.
Our background with the Fiesta:May the sun bless you with its warm hands.
May you fly so high and so well
That God joins you in laughter
And sets you gently back
Into the loving arms of Mother Earth.
Having grown up in nearby Rio Rancho, I have been around the Balloon Fiesta for my whole life. I have seen the fields change from dirt in the 90s to grass at the present. I have seen the building of the Balloon Museum nearby (though I still haven't been there... that will be a story for another day!). I have even been on a balloon crew for the Wells Fargo Stage Coach multiple times. On the other hand, this was Orrin's first time ever going to the balloon fiesta. He was in Albuquerque last year, but his schedule prevented him from being able to go. This year, we were determined to go and we made our schedules align!
Comment below about which is your favorite hot-air balloon!!
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