The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a world-renowned attraction and destination for kids of all ages. For more than four decades, the first week in October brings the smell of roasting chiles and the beautiful, magical moving picture show of hot air balloons sailing silently through the crisp fall air. Show
Guests from all over the world come to Albuquerque to celebrate ballooning. Literally, hundreds of balloons will be taking flight from the Balloon Fiesta Park October 1-9, 2022. From its modest beginnings in 1972 with 13 balloons launching from a shopping mall parking lot, the Balloon Fiesta has grown to a 9-day event launching from the custom-designed, 365-acre Balloon Fiesta Park. With over 500 balloons, is the largest ballooning event on earth, the most photographed event on earth, and the largest annual international event held in the United States. Imagine 54 football fields, all put together. That's the size of Balloon Fiesta Park's 78-acre launch field! And at this Park's "playing field," there are no losing teams and no viewing stands. Guests walk the field and are part of the action. Hundreds of thousands of smiling, upturned faces, awestruck by the spectacular beauty of hot air balloons filling the big blue morning New Mexico sky. During the glows you walk our field at nightfall and you hear the thrilling roar of hundreds of burners simultaneously igniting, turning the Park into a huge lighted Christmas tree of colorful balloons. What you can't feel until you join us is the massive joy everywhere around you. The Albuquerque Balloon Festival or Fiesta is the largest hot air balloon festival in the world, bringing in over 500 hot air balloons to fill the skies of Albuquerque. It has been on our bucket list for years, and it was a dream to finally witness it for ourselves last year. If you find hot air balloons to be as dreamy as we do, we highly recommend this event as well as hot air ballooning in Cappadocia Turkey. Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 2022 Countdown
This post may contain affiliate links, where we receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked at no additional cost to you. All opinions are always our own. Read our full disclosure for more info. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Local Adventurer possible. Last Updated: October 11, 2023 General Information About the Albuquerque International Balloon FiestaThe Albuquerque Balloon Festival happens every year in October. The festival runs for 9 days with all types of events happening throughout the week. The 2023 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta dates have been set for October 7, 2023, to October 15, 2023.
TicketsTickets for the Albuquerque Balloon Festival is $15 per person per session. Most days have a morning and evening session. If you leave the park in between, you will have to purchase another ticket. Some things include tickets like the Park & Ride and particular RV spots. Buy your tickets online here. If you’re looking for a more exclusive experience, there are a few upgraded options:
The Music Fiesta is additional as well ranging from $10 for general admission tickets to $499 for the ultimate experience. Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Schedule of Events + The Main Events You Can't MissMain Events You Can't MissOver 9 days of the festival, there are multiple events that highlight different types of balloons, disciplines, and more. It can be a bit daunting to figure out what is worth going to. Before getting to the full schedule, let’s talk about the main events to help you decide what you want to see.
Pro Tip: If you’re into photography, check out the Canon booth. You can take souvenir photos and get free cleanings on your Canon gear. They even rent out cameras to try them out during the balloon festival.
Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Schedule of EventsHere is the 2022 Albuquerque Balloon Festival Schedule of Events (we will update it with the 2023 schedule once it’s released). It’s always best to check their site for the most up-to-date information. Saturday, October 1st6:00 AM – Dawn Patrol Sunday, October 2nd6:00 AM – Dawn Patrol Monday, October 3rd6:00 AM – Dawn Patrol Tuesday, October 4th6:00 AM – Dawn Patrol Wednesday, October 5th6:00 AM – Dawn Patrol Thursday, October 6th4:30 AM – Kids’ Day Goodie Bag Distribution Friday, October 7th6:00 AM – Dawn Patrol Saturday, October 8th6:00 AM – Dawn
Patrol Sunday, October 9th6:00 AM – Dawn Patrol Note: Days are broken up into two balloon sessions. The morning session runs from 5:30 AM to 10 AM, and the evening sessions goes from 5 PM to 9 PM.
Getting To and Around the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon FestivalThe Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque is home to the festival each year. Located on the north side of town, the official address is: 4401 Alameda Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113 (map). Come event days, you may head to a different area since they have parking spread out but we’ll go over those details a little further down. Getting to Albuquerque: The Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) airport is right in town. Once you arrive, we recommend renting a car. Getting to the Balloon FiestaOnce you’re in Albuquerque, there are a few different options to get to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. Having your own car is the most convenient.
Note: If you require special disabled parking or assistance, contact the Balloon Fiesta staff in advance and they will be able to help you out. Best Places to Stay During the Albuquerque Balloon FestThere are multiple options for accommodations during the Balloon Fest. Since we had our own car and a parking pass, we ended up booking a hotel nearby so that the morning commute to beat traffic wouldn’t be long. If you plan on doing the Park & Ride, you can look for hotels near those locations. Since people come from all over the world, be sure to book your accommodations early as they do sell out quickly. There are also options for RVs and Glamping right next the festival grounds. Hotel OptionsHotels Near Balloon Fiesta Park: RVing, Camping, and GlampingRVers flock to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival every year. There is an area near the launch field entirely dedicated to RVs. The prices range from $35 a night to $250 a night at the most coveted spots at President’s Compound. Spots open up a week after the previous Balloon Fiesta and spaces sell out really fast.
Glamping sites are relatively new to the Balloon Fiesta. The tents are set up all together within walking distance to the Launch Field. Each site includes a safari tent, beds (1 queen or 2 singles), linens, heater, fridge, electric blanket, lamps, and premium parking. There are trailers set up with restrooms and showers. It costs $1500 for 3 nights for 1-2 people. Hot Air Balloon Rides Albuquerque Balloon FiestaWatching the balloons from the ground is amazing on its own, but riding a hot air balloon during the festival takes it to the next level. Fortunately you can make that happen by booking a ride with the Rainbow Ryders. This is the only company allowed to take guests during mass ascension. As with everything during the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, prices are at a premium. Rides usually run for at least $430 (normally $150) and they book up quickly. For reservations, contact them here: Rainbow
Ryders Another way to get a ride, is to volunteer with a pilot. You can sign up online or if you meet pilots, ask if they need help on their crew. Jacob joined the Chase Crew of the balloon that I rode and helped pack up the balloon once we landed. Typically pilots will give volunteers a ride sometime during the week, but it also isn’t guaranteed. Pro Tip Note: Don’t book your flight on the last day in case there are cancellations due to weather.
Best Places to Watch the Hot Air BalloonsNothing compares to seeing the balloons take off from Balloon Fiesta Park, but since the wind controls their fate, you can see the balloons from outside the park as well. Unfortunately, there isn’t a good way to predict which way they’ll go each day. While Jacob was with the Chase Crew, they used a mix of GPS, walkie talkies, and just trying to see the balloon in the sky to stay in touch with where the pilot was headed. With that in mind, here are some popular spots to watch the balloons if they’re flying in that direction.
Pro Tip: Since it’s hard to predict, just pick a location to start and have a backup location on the opposite side in case the balloons float away from you.
Essential Tips for the Albuquerque New Mexico Balloon FestivalTips for Planning Your Trip
Tips for After You Arrive
Frequently Asked Questions about the Balloon FestivalFAQs ABOUT PLANNING YOUR TRIP
FAQs After You Arrive in Albuquerque
What to Pack
More Things to Do in AlbuquerqueTake advantage of being in Albuquerque and explore the rest of town. Just keep in mind that there will be a lot of other visitors doing the same thing.
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Esther + JacobEsther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, which is one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found both near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas. You might also loveWhat are the best days to go to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival?There is generally no best day to attend the Balloon Fiesta, but the most popular event is the morning mass ascensions which generally take place on Saturday and Sunday mornings as well as on one of the weekday mornings. In the evening, the Balloon Glows are beautiful and generally followed by some great fireworks.
How much does it cost to get into the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta?Albuquerque, NM -The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, announced that general admission tickets for the 49thevent, set to take place October 2-10, will go on sale July 2, 2021.
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Tickets for 49th Balloon Fiesta to go on Sale July 2.. How do you enjoy the Albuquerque Balloon Festival?5 Fun Activities to Do During the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Witness The Mass Ascension. ... . Experience A Balloon Glow. ... . Enjoy The Magic Of The Dawn Patrol Show. ... . Browse Through Exquisite Chainsaw Carvings. ... . View Fun And Unique Balloons. ... . 2022 Sponsors.. Can you ride in a hot air balloon at the Albuquerque Balloon Festival?Rainbow Ryders' — Official Balloon Ride
As the official balloon ride concession for the world's largest ballooning event, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®, RAINBOW RYDERS, INC. is the only balloon ride company authorized to take off from Balloon Fiesta Park during the Balloon Fiesta®.
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