As Balloon Fiesta’s Balloonmeister for Fiesta de Los Globitos, Melissa Bond helps to coordinate the safe launch of the remote-controlled balloons during Balloon Fiesta.
In this month’s Inside the Basket, she shares more about how she became involved with Balloon Fiesta, what these types of balloons are, and reflects on the Globito Glow in the Village that occurred on October 6th, 2025.
1. Give a brief overview of your position with Balloon Fiesta and how you became involved with the organization.
I have been a Navigator for 31 years. Starting in the warehouse, counting merchandise and engraving name tags. Then I became a safety officer in 2000. Then Chief of Safety for three years and then moved to Assistant Balloonmeister for three years. In 2022, for the 50th event, I was a safety official and Balloonmeister for the remote-control balloons or Fiesta de Globitos. This year marked my 4th year as Globito Balloonmeister, and I am proud to share that we had 90 Globitos that attended the Balloon Fiesta this year! Each year, we grow as the interest in becoming a remote-control balloon controller becomes more popular.
2. What is a Globito, and how do they differ from traditional hot air balloons?
The Globitos or RC Balloons are remote-control hot air balloons. They operate like big balloons with a burner controlled via a remote, which is in the hands of the operator. Some are replicas of the pilot’s big balloon, or maybe a design that the owner/operator liked. Globitos started popping up several years ago as people would tailgate.
3. What were you most excited about for the Globito Glow in the Village event?
The Globito Glow in the Village was a great event! The event went out of Fiesta Park for the first time ever and into the Village of Los Ranchos on 4th Street. One block north of Osuna, for about 7/10 of a mile, ending at Pueblo Solano. The area is newly improved and an old part of Route 66. We had a great turnout of the Globitos wanting to participate in the Glow in the Village. With that being said, I was most excited about being able to celebrate the 66th anniversary of Los Ranchos, and as an ode to the Route 66 route, by showcasing 66 of our 90 Globitos at the event!
4. As you mentioned, this was the first time Balloon Fiesta hosted an official event outside of Balloon Fiesta Park. What does it mean to you to be part of this historic moment?
I grew up in this area, and when approached with the possibility of doing this event and it going outside of Fiesta Park, I was excited to be a part of it. It really means a lot to bring this event to the community; seeing the excitement through our guests’ eyes is a feeling you can’t describe. It was exciting to share with the community the joys of viewing a Globito and seeing the operators interact with the guests.
5. As Balloonmeister for the Globitos, what type of planning did it take to coordinate 66 balloons in such a unique setting?
The Globitos range in size from 1500 cubic feet, and some go to 3500 cubic feet. One of the main points of planning that I coordinated for the Globitos was the spacing in this unique setting. Yes, they are small, but we had to plan for spacing between the overhead power lines, string lights, and vehicle parking, especially with the slightly larger Globitos. The operators placed their equipment into wagons and set up their balloons in the designated spot that accommodated the size of their Globito. The pre-planning of spacing allowed guests to walk up and down the venue, interact with the operators, and enjoy the other activities the Village planned for that evening, such as car shows, food trucks and interaction with local businesses.