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BFP

The Guest Guide

For nine days in October, the New Mexico skies are painted as hundreds of balloons lift off from Albuquerque's Balloon Fiesta Park. Nothing rivals the power of Mass Ascension on crisp early mornings as these graceful giants leave the ground to take their place in the cerulean desert sky. For ballooning fans worldwide, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a pilgrimage. There's something for everyone to enjoy . . . whimsical special shapes filled with equal parts of hot air and wonder, and Balloon Glows that create a magical night landscape for spectators to wander. No matter who you are, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will leave you awestruck and wanting more.

 

What is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta?

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a world-renowned attraction and destination for kids of all ages. For more than three 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.

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 this year.

From its modest beginnings in 1972 with 13 balloons launching from a shopping mall parking lot, the Balloon Fiesta has grown to multiple events launching year-round at the custom-designed, 365-acre Balloon Fiesta Park. Our signature event remains Balloon Fiesta—which, with 700 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 New Mexico sky. What you can’t hear until you walk our field at nightfall is 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.

Balloon Fiesta Park is located north of Alameda Boulevard, one mile west of I-25.

           

View our Guest Guide (PDF) Guest Guide

           

           

Map
 
For Maps that contain more extensive directions to exact locations at the Balloon Fiesta Park and public parking and for some information on transportation services

Check out our maps!

           

Friday, October 3
7:00am - 8:00am    Albuquerque Aloft (at local elementary schools)

Saturday, October 4
5:45am - 6:45am    Dawn Patrol Show presented by Coleman Vision
6:45am - 7:45am    Opening Ceremonies
7:00am - 8:00am    Mass Ascension
8:00am - 6:00pm    Echo Series Chainsaw Carving Championship
2:00pm - 6:00pm    52nd Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race Inflation
2:00pm - 6:00pm    America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race Inflation
6:00pm - 7:00pm    52nd Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race Launch
6:00pm - 7:00pm    America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race Launch presented by Matheson Tri-Gas
6:00pm - 7:30pm    Twilight Twinkle Glow ™
8:00pm - 9:00pm    *AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show presented by Albuquerque Journal

Sunday, October 5
5:45am - 7:45am    Dawn Patrol Show presented by Coleman Vision
7:00am - 8:00am    Mass Ascension
8:00am - 4:00pm    Echo Series Chainsaw Carving Championship
9:00am - 10:00am    Fiesta of Wheels Car Show
11:00am - 2:00pm    Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading (Balloon Discovery Center)
5:00pm - 6:00pm    ECHO Chain Saw Carving Championship Awards & Charity Auction
5:45pm - 7:30pm    Balloon Glow
8:00pm - 9:00pm    AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show presented by Albuquerque Journal

Monday, October 6
WELLS FARGO BALLOON DISCOVERY CENTER DAY
5:45am - 6:45am    Dawn Patrol
7:00am - 8:00am    Flying Competition - Balloon Fiesta Hold'em presented by Sandia Resort & Casino

Tuesday, October 7
5:45am - 6:45am    Dawn Patrol
7:00am - 8:00am    Flying Competition - Balloon Fiesta Hold'em presented by Sandia Resort and Casino

Wednesday, October 8
5:45am - 6:45am    Dawn Patrol Show presented by Coleman Vision
7:00am - 8:00am    Flight of the Nations Mass Ascension & Flying Competition presented by Continental Airlines

Thursday, October 9
5:45am - 6:45am    Dawn Patrol
7:00am - 8:00am    Wells Fargo Special Shape Rodeo™
8:00am - 9:00am    Flying Competition & Prize Grab
4:00pm - 6:00pm    Chainsaw Wood Carving Contest north end of launch field
5:45pm - 7:30pm    Wells Fargo Special Shape Glowdeo™
8:00pm - 9:00pm    *AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show presented by Albuquerque Journal

Friday, October 10
5:45am - 6:45am    Dawn Patrol
7:00am - 8:00am    Wells Fargo Special Shape Rodeo™
8:00am - 9:00am    Honda Key Grab Competition presented by American Honda Motor Company
8:00am - 6:00pm    Chainsaw Wood Carving Contest north end of launch field
5:45pm - 7:30pm    Wells Fargo Special Shape Glowdeo™
8:00pm - 9:00pm    *AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show presented by Albuquerque Journal

Saturday, October 11
5:45am - 6:45am    Dawn Patrol Show presented by Coleman Vision
7:00am - 8:00am    Mass Ascension
8:00am - 6:00pm    Chainsaw Wood Carving Contest north end of launch field
5:45pm - 7:30pm    Night Magic™ Glow
6:00pm - 7:00pm    Chainsaw Carvers Auction north end of launch field
8:00pm - 9:00pm    *AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show presented by Albuquerque Journal

Sunday, October 12
PROPANE DAY presented by Airgas Southwest, Inc
5:45am - 6:45am    Dawn Patrol Show presented by Coleman Vision
7:00am - 8:00am    Farewell Mass Ascension
 
 

 

 

 

 

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