Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Whoosh! Whoosh!

As the hot air balloon filled with riders floats through the air, the world is silent and still -- except for the occasional whoosh sound and burst of heat from the flame propelling the balloon higher.  Across the horizon, the sky is speckled with more than 700 hot air balloons during the largest balloon fiesta in the world.  Among the balloons sailing through the air are a giant beer mug, a Smokey the Bear, a Creamland cow, a Noah's ark and -- yes -- the two bees that will navigate through the air to join together in a "kiss."

Started in 1972 with a mere 13 balloons, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is now the largest balloon fiesta in the world and the largest international event of any kind in the country, according to the official Web site.  Every year, during the first week of October, the sky over Albuquerque is filled with colorful balloons against the backdrop of the fiery sunrise over the Sandia Mountains. It will occur this year Oct. 2-10, 2010.

Admission is $6 for adults 12 and older. Younger children are free. Parking is $10 per carload. Discounts are available for multi-day tickets. The Albuquerque event is one of the only events that still allows spectators onto the field to walk among the balloons, feel the heat of the flames firsthand, and talk to the pilots from all over the world. For $375 per person, spectators can participate in the events and sail as a passenger in one of the balloons provided by Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Company.

The week is filled with activities morning and night. In the mornings, all the balloons lift off and sail over the city in a mass ascension.  Some mornings, the balloons start a mile or more away from the 80-acre field and fly inward -- navigating through all the other balloons  --in a race to grab the winning key for a new automobile from the top of a tall pole in the center of the field. In the evenings, some events feature a balloon glow where all the balloons inflate and ignite their burners to create a simultaneous glowing effect of vibrant colorful balloons across the huge field. Other nights, the special shape balloons get the field all to themselves to showcase their unique designs as they light up the night.

Eventually the ride must come to an end. As the balloon descends, the ground seems to rush up to greet it. Riders bend their legs, squat close to the bottom and hold on tight to brace themselves for the moment when the balloon meets the ground. The pilot expertly guides the balloon up and down to avoid obstacles and power lines seeking the perfect landing spot. Then, the pilot allows the balloon to drop --sometimes gracefully and other times bouncing to its final resting place as the sounds of the world once again engulf the riders.
 

- by Julie Medina, Albuquerque Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Julie Medina

Julie Medina has experience as a reporter at the Albuquerque Journal and has written freelance articles for the Albuquerque Tribune, Albuquerque the Magazine, New Mexico Magazine and New Mexico Kids Magazine. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in print journalism from the University of New Mexico in 2008. She has lived in Albuquerque since 1984 and believes it is best to remember to play like a tourist in your own hometown so you don't forget the vast culture around you.