The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a annual balloon festival that takes place in Albuquerque, in the state of New Mexico in the United States of America, in early October.
This hot air balloon party has a duration of nine days, and is the largest event linked to hot air balloons around the world. Beyond 750 gas balloons they fly gracefully in a ballet over the serene New Mexico landscape, where the sky becomes a surreal canvas of various colors.
This is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which takes place annually in the south of the fabled Sangre de Cristo Mountains, just east of Navajo country one hour from Santa Fe.
In the days of the festival the site fills up with over 100.000 spectators who arrive before dawn to witness the Dawn Patrol. Now that balloon lighting technology has become reliable enough for night driving, balloon pilots start this ritual run before dawn.
The feeling of watch dozens of huge glowing lanterns float across the dark night sky and landing shortly after sunrise is wonderful. Due to the layout of the event and its stringent safety standards, there is virtually no division between the spectator and the show.
With the Tickets, you can walk up to the balloons, up to the moment of take-off. If you want to get even closer, there is also the Rainbow Ryders, the official balloon guide service of the Balloon Fiesta, which offers all customers the opportunity to go up and take a balloon ride, in the middle of the party. You need to book quickly, because although a hot air balloon tour is not cheap, there are a lot of requests.
The Festival is a fair one tribute to man's passion and desire to fly. Its first manifestation took place in France with the Montgolfier brothers, with their pioneering balloon flight in 1783, preceding the Wright brothers by over a hundred years.
