However, better to be safe than sorry and it is more enjoyable to be in the Park walking around and eating than sitting in traffic! The campground is just for the festival so there may very well be goats head stickers / burr weeds nearby. If the wind is light, balloons tend to bunch together and if winds are stronger or moving in different directions, they tend to drift further apart. We live in Boston so not used to this weather at all! Im wondering how the view is from the Chasers area. Jessica. Hi Michelle, That is exciting to hear The Sandia Resort is very convenient to the Balloon Fiesta Field and they often they have a shuttle you can arrange to take you to and from the resort to the field. The museum itself is really informative and interesting. With over 600 fantastic balloons envelope the skyline. There are bike trails that run across much of Albuquerque and you can ride your bike to the Bike Valet point just off Balloon Museum Drive and a volunteer will tag your bike and store it in a safe location while you enjoy the Balloon Fiesta. Generally, Id recommend coming for at least 2 full days so that if the events are canceled on one day, you have a chance to catch them the following day. We will be first-time visitors to the Fiesta and New Mexico. Tips for Booking Accommodation during Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta? Yes, I think 3 to 4 nights is a perfect amount of time to make sure you get to see a couple events and have back-up dates in case of bad weather. 7:30pm Skydiving performance Probably will have more questions as time goes on and gets closer. Since the meals and event at the museum take place regardless of what happens with the balloons, I suspect the cancelation policy is pretty strict and is not related to weather (unless of course the museum event would be canceled itself for some reason). This is everything you need to know to plan your trip. These are typically much less used and have shorter lines than those just off the Main Street and around the concession stands. We would like to see mass ascension and the night glow. I recall reading detailed information on the RV parking, specifically stickers all over the standard RV sites. That number on the home page of the Balloon Fiesta website is the total number of visitors who entered the Fiesta Park in 2018 over the 9 days of the event. Weve attended several hot air balloon events as media, and unlike some, the experience as Media is about the same as that of a Visitor as visitors are allowed on the launching field here. There are a few benches and picnic tables on and along the field but these are often occupied. Well be staying in a hotel (close by), but will have our motorhome with us. Parking tickets and special events tickets cannot be reused. Also the roads will be busy and not great for walking. During the evening sessions, the concession stands and vendors are open as well so you can also eat and shop for souvenirs and there are sometimes other things happening as well. These are on a first-come, first-serve basis, so if this is a necessity, Id make advanced reservations. Ive allllways wanted to go to a festival, but have yet to make it to one! An employee at the Museum advised that we do both events in 1 day since its early morning and late afternoon, Sunday. Keep up the awesome work yall are doing. Do you get a better view for the evening activities from one versus the other of these two ticket venues? Note that Park and Ride tickets now need to be booked online and may sell out in advance. Many local artists take advantage of the balloons as favorite subject matter for their paintings. There is also a number of business and sponsor tents, many offering free goodies and games. WebThe Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta features many wonderful experiences! Hi Zoe, So glad that this was helpful and happy to hear you will be attending the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta this year! Just note that there are not many hotels or motels that are an easy walk away from the Balloon Fiesta field. Generally, with the admission tickets and upgraded experience tickets, you can not get a refund. Thank you in advance for your advice! Were bringing our 2 year old and hes set (I think?) Tickets go on sale 4/5 for 2019 and I really want to get them for Friday-Sunday. No matter how you are getting to the park, with the exception of walking, be sure to arrive early! The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a world-renowned attraction and destination for kids of all ages. But I guess it depends on your moms feelings and ability to stand/walk for prolonged periods of time you can bring in a folding chair as well or rent a wheelchair/scooter if needed. 7:30pm Skydiving performance You will be at a mile-high altitude which could increase the alcohol's effect. Hundreds of thousands of smiling, upturned faces, awestruck by the spectacular beauty of hot air balloons filling the big blue morning New Mexico sky. Because of that, there is no particular location I would recommend if you plan to explore on foot, just anywhere along the Rio Grande that allows public access that is north of I-40 and west of 1-25. I have decided to not rent a car and use Uber. I used to see them floating alongon my way to work when I lived in Albuquerque. If you are on the edge of the field or just outside it (e.g., Chasers and Gondola Club) then you can find a nice view over a large part of the field. How can I purchase tickets for Balloon Fiesta? That's the size of Balloon Fiesta Park's 78-acre launch field! However, I think a bigger issue is that there is not really anything to do at the Field on most days between sessions. Imagine 54 football fields, all put together. The other two options would be to drive yourself and park at the field or book a taxi. Less to carry around, or worry about between your legs when shooting. We also have roving entertainment and interactive education at This year there are two check-in times per session for those with Park & Ride tickets. We plan on being in Albuquerque for 4 days and a few in Santa Fe..any suggestion on hotels, VRBO, north, south of cityetc would be helpful! Learn more about us here and dont forget to subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content. The weekdays are definitely usually less crowded, so are nice days for attending with kids. Photograph by Bill Heinsohn, Getty Images Please be respectful of copyright. We give several suggestions for nearby hotels above in the article, but we also recommend looking up the Balloon Fiesta Park location on a map and then searching for hotels nearby. [1] The event is the largest balloon festival in the world, followed by the Grand Est Mondial Air in France, and the Len International Balloon Festival in Mexico.[2]. We got there early, set up chairs and just enjoyed being outside waiting for fireworks & balloon glow. Were currently based in Las Vegas but have also lived in NYC, Portland, San Diego, and LA. These pins include official event pins, commemorative pins, special events pins, individual balloon pins, race pins, etc. Note that the Double Ascension or Double Launch written on some of the schedules for the upcoming Balloon Fiesta refers to the two launches that will take place that morning: the morning ascension and the fly in competition. Kids (and most adults!) You can pay to ride in a hot air balloon during the Balloon Fiesta. Each year, the reservation bookings for RVs spots generally open the week after the last Balloon Fiesta. The campground is just used for the festival so there may very well be goats head stickers / burr weeds nearby. Really appreciate it. Advanced general admission ticketsare only $15per person. Each tent can hold up to 4 persons. The 2024 RV reservations will go on sale in January 2024. Sounds like you have your trip about sorted out now If you do go with Uber, just be sure to leave plenty of time. WebFor nine days in October, the Albuquerque skies are colorfully painted as more than 500 balloons lift off from Balloon Fiesta Park. Basically, the official Morning Session ends at 10:00am and the Evening Session does not begin until 5:00pm. The evening sessions are not normally as crowded normally as the morning sessions, but generally it is advised to be at the park about 2 hours before the evening events begin to avoid heavy traffic. There is green chile and red chile, and if you want some of both ask for it Christmas style. Do a little research beforehand so you know what you are most interested in seeing! If I do the park and ride option, but I plan to do both the morning and evening session on the same day, do I have to leave to go back to the parking location at the end of the first session? ~ Jessica, I am stunned (in a good way) with all these photos. Amazing guide, was hoping to get there finally this year but not likely to happen. WebThe Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a yearly hot air balloon festival that takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during early October. You can search for hotels or apartments within a short walk of the shopping centers. When trying to hit all 50 states with my boyfriend and NM being driving distance from Dallas, I found this as a suggested thing to do a few months ago and didnt think much of it. Albuquerque, NM - The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, powered by ExxonMobil will launch from Balloon Fiesta Park, October 1-9, 2022. But please check latest schedule on the fiesta website to check for any changes. WebImagine over 500 colorful hot air balloons rising up at dawn over the New Mexico landscape there's truly nothing like it, and the place to experience it is each October at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Balloon Fiesta Parkway and the Sandia Casino Hotel. You can also buy some of the officialmerchandise online at any time. Most bike trails are multipurpose trails. For Saturday PM session, I guess it just depends on if you are interested in seeing a Night Glow event with fireworks or not. We will be staying 19 miles away on I-25. For morning sessions, the park generally opens at 4:30am and wed advise trying to be inside the park by 5:30am (events begin around 6:00am most mornings). Easier and cheaper to do. At low elevations the winds tend to be northerly (from the north), but at higher elevations they tend to be southerly. A friend of mine happened to be in one of those balloons. The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is actually in New Mexico which is a state within the United States. Bring cash to pay for your parking. What a beautiful event! Many thx!! It also allowed us the opportunity to be put on a list to potentially go up in a balloon during the Balloon Fiesta and we were very lucky to have gotten that chance! But since you are within driving distance, that would definitely decrease your costs. But whether that is worth seeing for you on that evening, is up to you. The rate was clearly higher than the norm, but completely worth *not* waiting in line for a departing shuttle-bus. It also caused a hole in the balloon and a small power outage. ), Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter where we share our latest travel news and tips. 6:00pm Night Glow There is also the Artisan Tent which has vendors selling all kinds of arts, crafts, and souvenirs from local artists. Kratz asked "Can we get 19 here?" Space reservation for 2023 opens on January 11, 2023. She lives near Arboleda Senda NE area. Yes, you do need to get a different Park & Ride ticket for the evening session if you plan to use the shuttles a second time. I had a similar idea about taking a nap but I was thinking of setting a blanket out. Other Events & Activities at Balloon Fiesta, 2023 Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Schedule of Events, Guided Tours to Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Really appreciate it. Do you know if the evening light show and fireworks is also weather dependent? If you have any issue, just explain that you had used it for a session that was cancelled. 3) Bring a polarizer to use, if sky is bright, and blue. We considered bringing kayaks, but think it may be easier to run out to the river some place, but dont know the best public areas to access. WebWhat is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta? Visit Albuquerque prohibits users from downloading images from our website. My wife and I are both in our late 60s and will be coming to the Balloon Fiesta 2021, for the first time and attending the opening day ceremonies, both morning and evening. You can sort these lists by distance from the Balloon Fiesta Park and by budget. We are combing from Santa Fe and are willing to make the sacrifice to be there early to get a parking space. Another option since you are planning to stay at the RV park is to volunteer for the RV parking/registration since you will be there anyway. The Balloon Fiesta grew each year for decades, and today is the largest balloon convention in the world. In our experience, they often head towards and land over in the Rio Rancho and Corrales areas. I am going to assume you are launching from the field (otherwise it is much harder to say as balloons launching from outside are going to likely be further from the rest of the balloons). However, the tower was energized and could have led to electrocution once the passengers set foot on ground, so KKOB shut down its transmitter following the accident in order to enable them to climb down to safety. I would recommend planning to attend at least one morning session and one evening session as they are quite different in nature. For many people, being able to go up in a balloon during a mass ascension with hundreds of other balloons is a once in a lifetime experience worth splurging on! Photograph by Bill Heinsohn, Getty Images Please be respectful of copyright. Note that rates will be higher than normal during the Festival so be prepared for surge pricing. There are a few guided tours that include a visit to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. And know that the opening Saturday is often the worst in terms of traffic and crowds, so be really prepared on that day or consider going on a less busy date. So the Park & Ride shuttle tickets are a good option if you are staying near one of the Park & Ride locations and dont want to have to battle the traffic. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. But there is no reliable secondary place to purchase them that I am aware. Also, I read that Uber had a designated route in previous years, so they didnt have to be stuck in the same traffic. Id definitely recommend closed-toed practical shoes. Yes, weve been to the balloon fiesta a few times now and have been updating this article for several years. It was just the two of us and the pilot and it was a great experience taking off from the landing field with hundreds of other balloons that morning. Now to figure out which of the RV lots will be the best to reserve! Balloons often land in Albuquerque neighborhoods. Glamping sites are relatively new to the Balloon Fiesta. The Best Places to Watch the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta . It is really hard to predict where the balloons will go as they will go in the direction of the wind which obviously changes. But on some days, balloons drift in the other direction so you wouldnt see much from the Rio Grande, so it just depends on the weather and wind conditions. For the wheelchair and mobility scooter rental, they do have a limited number which are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. For the hot air balloon flights from outside the park (not by Rainbow Ryders), they normally take off about 5 miles from the park during the fiesta. Required fields are marked *, Notify me of replies to my comment (just replies to your comment, no other e-mails, we promise! So if you want to do that, Id plan to go Monday morning to do that perhaps? We look forward to welcoming you to Albuquerque and to the Balloon Fiesta! When I lived there, we knew people who gave away/sold tickets to people locally. Thats what happen when youre only in a location for 6 months I guess! There were not 886,307 people at the First Session though. As noted above, arrive as early as possible if you plan to drive. 6:00pm Special Shapes Night Glow Look up, lay on ground and shoot pics, or shoot from a tethered balloon thats on the property. Thanks so much for putting this together. Hi Jessica and thanks for the comprehensive info! No one bothered our stuff if we happened to get up and walk around. 8:00am noon Chainsaw carving. Wishing you a wonderful Fiesta! Youll want to follow the bike trail and set your end point at the Bike Valet. But not so feasible for most people. For Gondola Club group ticket sales, please call the Balloon Fiesta office at (505) We were invited to hang out with the crew that afternoon for some tailgating and food in the park but we decided to go as we had to meet a friend, but if you get invited do stay as balloonists know how to celebrate! Note that you will want to be out for the morning events as they balloons do not leave the field for the evening events (they are tethered in place) so not really visible from outside field. The success of the Fiesta depends in part on the cool Albuquerque morning temperatures in October and the Albuquerque box. Ok, first you will definitely need Music Fiesta tickets these can be purchased online in advance (recommended) but I believe if there are still tickets available, they will also be selling them at the event on the day of the Music Fiesta. The closest to the field are the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Albuquerque-N. We are there Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. However, if there is a special ticketed event happening during the Balloon Fiesta, such as Music Fiesta (a special concert), these tickets are sold separately and you will want to book these in advance. I hope you were still able to get the tickets you wanted or at least on another date. Contact Balloon Fiesta Travel to reserve a hotel,click here, (505) We actually landed nearby the balloon that morning on our own flight and heard the power line snap and a loud boom sound which was a little scary and we were all happy to hear there were no serious injuries. Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is definitely the ultimate one though An amazing place for photographers! There are trailers set up with restrooms and showers. If you need to book more last minute and are not having luck finding anything, dont despair! Balloon Fiesta Park, from which the balloons are launched, is located on the northern edge of the city. However, as always, this article contains only our own honest thoughts and opinions.**. I heard from a Uber driver that Uber is still trying to negotiate being able to do that this weekend, but I would not plan on it unless you hear an announcement otherwise. Note that it looks like many of the times and dates for the Park and Ride shuttles are likely to sell out in advance. That was cool. The vast majority of RV spots are dry camping spots (no hookups), but porta-potties are free and readily available on-site and you have access to dump and water services for an additional fee from third-party folks who will come to your site. Find out the latest RV information and, A few hotels and casinos will also have their own private shuttles taking their guests to and from Balloon Fiesta Park. Visitors are welcome to walk around the launch field. WebDuring this season, the sky is bluer, the days are gentler, and the mornings crisper -- almost as though the landscape has taken a deep sigh -- and on the deserts warm breath sails the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Now that she mentioned it, Ill be wondering that too. Personally, my favorite place is on the field and we normally just do the General Admission. Hope that helps, and wishing you a great time at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta! The parking lots do fill up, especially on weekends, and if you are heading to the park late you risk not getting a spot at all. Note that while buyers are able to print the Chasers Club tickets at home, the Gondola Club tickets come with a scannable physical wristband and printed parking passes that are mailed to the purchaser so you would need to be sure to have both of these. For instance did you know the first hot air balloon passengers were a duck, a sheep, and a rooster?! WebBalloon Fiesta Park is home to the Golf & Event Center, the Sid Cutter Pilots' Pavilion and the Anderson Abruzzo Balloon Museum. There is just not a lot of extra room for storage on the buses. However, words and pictures cannot express the awe of seeing that many balloons in the air at the sametime. Yes, you can still find accommodation last minute but you will pay a lot more. Hi Frank, It is definitely worth making the time to go to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta and if you have yet to explore ABQ and Santa Fe, youll have plenty to do for the week. Admission tickets are $15 per person, per session. Stay at a hotel within walking distance (or short taxi ride) of one of the event Park & Ride shuttles youll want to purchase the tickets in advance, 2.) Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc., organizes the Balloon Fiesta each year. Finding handicap parking was confusing enough, then add to that the variety of directions the patrol and parking attendants were giving us was un called for. Do we need to buy new tickets? For example one nearby hotel popular with fiesta visitors is Sandia Resort & Casino. To avoid crowds, come on a weekday as they are much less crowded than weekends, and one day usually provides special activities for children and families.
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