Every year in October thousands gather to participate and witness the International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque New Mexico. You can hear the ooohs and aaahs as the balloons fire up their burners for the morning dawn patrol, the mass ascension of hundreds of balloons, and the evening balloon glows.Mass ascension balloon fiesta NM. For ten 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 guests to wander. No matter who you are, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will leave you awestruck and wanting more.

WHAT IS THE A LBUQUERQUE 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 Balloon Fiesta Park this year, October 6 through 14, 2007. From its modest beginnings in 1972 with 13 balloons launching from a shopping mall parking lot, 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 beautyof 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.

ALBUQUERQUE FACTS

Albuquerque is the largest city in New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment. Situated at 5,000 feet (1,539 meters) above sea level, Albuquerque is base camp for hot-air ballooning. It is a culturally-diverse metropolitan area with over 750,000 residents. Combined with Santa Fe, its neighbor to the north, Albuquerque hosts millions of visitors each year. People are drawn by the scenic beauty including the Rocky Mountains, red rock mesas, sandy hillsand desert/alpine vegetation. The area is known for its high quality of life, including one of the nation’s most dynamic art communities. Albuquerque is an easy drive from Denver, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Phoenix, Tucson, El Paso, Oklahoma City, Colorado Springs, and Las Cruces with a combined metro population of over 12 million. Need more info - Click here for Official Balloon Fiesta Website

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