(2025 Balloons and Beyond Ep 6)
We interrupt this week’s RabbiTRAILS blog to take you live (almost) to the 53rd Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico! It’s Balloon Fiesta time!
AIBF is the largest celebration of hot air ballooning in the world with more than 600 traditional and special shape balloons participating in this year’s fiesta that runs from Sat, Oct 4 – Sun, Oct 12.
This is our second balloon fiesta. It is a unique event – we and thousands of other spectators can get within a few feet of balloons as they are inflated and launched.
Fiesta Camping – Close to the Action
We arrived the afternoon of Thurs, Oct 9 and set up in the West VIP camping area that is on AIBF grounds, right next to the International Balloon Museum. After a short wait to check in, we were guided to our campsite – a small patch of asphalt normally part of the museum parking lot.
We’re camping rally style, a highfalutin way of saying no hookups (electricity, water or sewer) and parking so close to other RVs that the drone of their generators is soothing white noise. Generators must be turned off during quiet time (10 pm – 3:30 am) so there is a tiny bit of quiet relief!
Despite the noise and crowded conditions, we are a five-minute walk from where the balloon events take place.
Mass Ascensions, Glows and Flickers
Events during the fiesta include daily mass ascensions during which hundreds of balloons launch just after sunrise, to evening balloon glows/flickers where balloons are inflated but not launched shortly after sunset. The balloons glow and blink as pilots ignite the propane jets that fill the balloons with hot air. It is quite a spectacle!
Seek Shelter – Rain Is Coming!
As we wandered the grounds after getting set up, we saw balloon chase crew help was needed. We signed up and were eagerly anticipating an interesting experience during the Thursday evening glow.
An ominous rain cloud approached the fiesta grounds as we waited for our balloon pilot to arrive. The evening events were cancelled, and our balloon crew experience was not to be. And we got soaked as we hastily made our way to a protected area.
Things are Looking Up!
This (Friday) morning we were up at 5:15 for the mass ascension.
At 6 am, the Dawn Patrol was launched. Six balloons took off beneath a nearly full moon to check wind currents for the hundreds of balloons set to launch an hour later. The wind currents and morning weather were perfect!
How to Launch 600 Hot Air Balloons
Balloon crews are assigned where to launch on the massive AIBF grounds. The grounds are laid out in a grid of 193 locations, each large enough to launch several balloons.
From balloon support vehicles/trailers, balloons, gondolas, fans and other items are unloaded. Large tarps are spread at each launch location and balloons are removed from bags more than four feet in diameter and spread out on the tarps.
High powered fans connected to gasoline motors are started, and the balloons are inflated with cold air.
A gondola tipped on its side is attached to each balloon. When the balloon is fully inflated, the pilot ignites a propane jet at the top of the gondola to shoot VERY hot air into the balloon. The propane is ignited in three-to-four second bursts so as not to melt/burn the balloon fabric.
The balloon rises in a matter of minutes as it fills with hot air, and the gondola is eventually tipped upright to be ready for launch. The pilot and passengers climb on board.
The launch sequence of each balloon is controlled by zebras, persons dressed in special striped clothing, who communicate with the launch controller and give each balloon pilot several whistle blasts to let them know when it is time to launch.
Each pilot continues with propane bursts until their gondola starts to lift. A tether line is then released and the balloon takes off!
A chase crew is then dispatched to follow and retrieve the balloon, pilot and passengers when the balloon lands.
An Unforgettable Spectacle
Watching hundreds of balloons launching and soaring into the sky is amazing. Below are some views of this morning’s (October 10) mass ascension.
Tomorrow
The RabbiTRAILS balloon fiesta blog continues with photos of the balloon glow/flicker event this evening, photos of the amazing special balloon shapes, and more.
Take the LONG Road... 
Thumbs up! Excellent!
LikeLike
Thanks – if you haven’t been, add to your bucket list! I’ll bet your wife could take some amazing photos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t wait to see more tomorrow. I want to go and see this in person.
>
LikeLike
Three days of Fiesta pics – hope you didn’t feel spammed!
LikeLike
thanks for sending. That is an amazing event that takes massive coordination. How many people can ride in a balloon , how long are they up in the air and how far do they normally travel before they land. Does each balloon have their own pick up crew?
what is next on your travel agenda?
LikeLike
Hi Frost. Most balloons have a small gondola that carries 2 or 3 people. We did see one launch that had around 10. The balloons are typically up 1-2 hours and they can go several miles before landing. Albuquerque is unique in that it has the ‘box’ – balloons rise to a certain elevation and float in one direction. After a while they can rise to a higher elevation where the wind direction is the opposite. If the box works as expected, balloons can land back at the starting point! Each balloon has their own chase crew. We currently in the Texas panhandle headed south to Davis Mountains to see the McDonald Telescope Observatory. With many national parks being closed due to the government shutdown, we will likely start heading home in a week or two. Take care!
LikeLike
So beat and looks like something we need to check out in person sometime. What an awesome experience and thanks for sharing your journey with us all. May God Bless your travels!
LikeLike
I mean… So Beautiful…
LikeLike
Hi, the Fiesta is an amazing event. The best part if being able to get very close to the launching balloons – you can feel the heat from the propane jets!
LikeLiked by 1 person