“World's Most Complete Neighborpedia”
Sponsor a Community — What is Localism? | Register or Sign In
Explore:   What's happening in your neck of the woods?
Home

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

It's that time of year again, when the skies around Albuquerque are filled with thousands of colorful, inspiring, and sometimes downright amusing lighter-than-air craft wafting on our October breezes:

 

Here Comes Balloon Fiesta!
Beginning tomorrow, Saturday, October 3rd, thousands of ballonists from all over the world will be taking to the New Mexico skies in the cool mornings for races, competitions, and general mass ascensions, and lighting up at night for "balloon-glow" magic, to the delight of many thousands of visitors and residents alike.

Here's the schedule:

Day

Time

Event
Saturday, Oct. 3 6:45 a.m. Opening Ceremonies
  7:00 a.m. Mass Ascension
  2:00 p.m. America's Challenge Gas Balloon Inflation
  6:00 p.m. Twilight Twinkle Glow
  6:00 p.m. America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race Launch
  8:00 p.m. AfterGlow Fireworks Show
Sunday, Oct. 4 7:00 a.m. Mass Ascension
  11:00 a.m. Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading
  5:45 p.m. Balloon Glow
  8:00 p.m. AfterGlow Firworks Show
Monday, Oct. 5 7:00 a.m. Flying competition: Balloon Fiesta Hold 'Em
Tuesday, Oct. 6 7:00 a.m. Flying competition: Balloon Fiesta Hold 'Em
Wednesday, Oct.  7 7:00 a.m. Flight of the Nations Mass Ascension and Flying competition
Thursday, Oct. 8 7:00 a.m. Special Shape Rodeo
  7:00 a.m. Flying competition and Prize Grab
  5:45 p.m. Special Shape Glowdeo
  8:00 p.m. AfterGlow Fireworks Show
Friday, Oct. 9 7:00 a.m. Special Shape Rodeo & Key Grab Competition
  5:45 p.m. Special Shape Glowdeo
  8:00 p.m. AfterGlow Fireworks
Saturday, Oct. 10 7:00 a.m. Mass Ascension
  5:45 p.m. Night Magic Glow
8:00 p.m. AfterGlow Fireworks Show
Sunday, Oct. 11 7:00 a.m. Farewell Mass Ascension
In addition to the varying daily schedule above, each morning of Balloon Fiesta starts with a 5:45 Dawn Patrol Show, and features morning and evening Chainsaw Wood Carving Contests.
Come on out and join the fun!
Posted Friday Oct 02