In the Fall of 2024, we got to participate in one of the most beautiful, amazing, life-changing, and bucket-listed events ever: the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta! Epic is an inadequate word to describe the event, but we’ll do our best to break it down for you.
What to Expect at Balloon Fiesta
Each day at the Balloon Fiesta is split into 2 sessions; a morning session and an evening session. Unless you are volunteering or otherwise have access to a week pass, each ticket will only get you into one session. Let’s see what each session has to offer!
Morning Session
Starting at 5:00 AM, and yes, I said AM, the gates open to the general public, and you’ll want to get there before then as the lines to get in can be very long. At 5:45 AM there is a drone show set to music . You’ll get to walk on the field among the balloons and their crews, watching the setup process, and collect trading cards.
Balloons Start to Soar!
Right around 6:00 AM, you’ll see a small group of balloons inflating for the “Dawn Patrol.” These balloons are almost magical, twinkling in the early morning sky like Christmas lights cut free and allowed to soar. These balloons’ job is to show the rest of the pilots and crew what the winds are like that day, and what they can expect for their flights.
At 7 AM, weather permitting, the opening ceremonies, starting with the singing of the national anthem, will commence. Following the national anthem will be a “fire salute” with all the gondolas shooting flame into the sky! The first morning event had a low flyover of the local crop-dusting club. Finally, you’ll hopefully get to see a mass ascension.
Balloons will launch constantly over the course of the next hour, directed by ground officials, affectionately called “zebras.” They fill the sky with indescribable colors, shapes, and magic. Balloon crews then race off to chase their balloons over the ground to recover them.
Depending on the day, there may be balloon competitions, like races or target drops. The rest of the morning is filled with live music on the various stages, vendors, workshops, exhibitions, auctions, and even outreach classes. On one of our afternoons, we took the kids into the Balloon Discovery Center. They got to learn about parts of the balloon, more about the winds that make Albuquerque perfect for ballooning, as well as other STEM activities. The activities are geared mostly for the under-10 crowd, but definitely a must-see if you’ve got littles.
The whole field will be cleared out at noon to prepare for the evening session. You can’t come in for the morning and stay for the evening.
Evening Session
Evening sessions at the Balloon Festival are also a delight but they are not held every day. Events start at 3 PM, and include many of the same vendors, entertainment, and exhibitions as the morning sessions.
The first skydiving demonstration is at 5 PM. Starting around 6 PM, several balloons will start to inflate on the ground for an “Evening Glow.” The balloons won’t rise, but will stay tied to the ground as the pilots make them shimmer and sparkle to the delight of the crowd. This is another great opportunity to meet the pilots and crews of your favorite balloons, collect trading cards, and learn more about ballooning in general. If the winds are too high, the safety officers may opt for a “candle glow” instead, where no balloons are inflated, but crews will blast and shimmer their burners without the envelopes.
After the glow, there’s a pyrotechnic skydiving display, followed by another drone show, set to music. The show is the same every night, but still fun to watch. The drone show had some elements of pyrotechnics. A flying demon head shot “lasers” at the ground, setting off a series of dramatic explosions!
After the drone show, a dramatic fireworks show starts, again set to music. The fireworks launch from two sides of the field, so you really feel like you’re inside the show.
It’s Worth Attending Multiple Sessions
Each day is full of wonder, and if you can afford to take in both sessions, it’s well worth the effort. Make sure you check the schedule of events before purchasing your tickets to ensure you get to see what you want to. There is a reason why the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the most photographed event on earth, and being there is so much better then any camera could capture!
Coming up soon: How to Attend the Balloon Fiesta, Attending with Fulltime Families, Volunteering at Balloon Fiesta, and the Balloon Museum!