Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

[PJRNM]

I tried to reply to an older thread, but the site won't allow me to, so I started a new thread:

The Balloon Fiesta is a great event to attend. Do keep in mind that daily agendas are weather driven. If the winds pickup, events for the day can be cancelled, so have a 'plan b' in mind for the day. Most of the activities outside of town do involve significant distances. There are numerous things to do/see around Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Santa Fe has historical significance and is approx. 45 miles to the north. Los Alamos is a little further away than Santa Fe and has an atomic museum. (Los Alamos is the home of the Manhattan Project).

Some links to review:

http://www.newmexico.org/

http://www.itsatrip.org/

http://santafe.org/

http://visit.losalamos.com/

I'm local, let me know if I can be of any help.

[Capt. Mike]

I'll second this...we were there with a group of FROGs in October, and it was SPECTACULAR, both the evening glows and the morning mass ascents.

[rattleNsmoke]

When is the Balloon Fest?

[Filthy Beast]

Oct 5 - 13

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta - Welcome to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

[Iggy]

We went in 2010 as one of theings on our bucket list.
It was amazing week.
Can you amgion 200-300 balloons up in the air the same time.
Horizen to horizen.

[DougP47]

This is the same baloon fest that use to be in Middletown Ohio. That was a great good time when it was there. I would like to see it again but, this work thing keeps getting in the way.

[B47]

I don't know if they still do, but when I was still working as a FAA Inspector. ( Yes Turbo, those balloons are considered Aircraft) I was assigned to help the local FAA office in ABQ perform surveillance of the fiesta.

One of the things that I will always remember there was what they called " The Balloon Glow". It was done at night with all the balloons tethered down and the propane burners were ignited. As stated before, I don't know if this is still an event there, but it was a beautiful sight to see.

One bit of advice for those going - it can and does get chilly there at night.

[jdadoug]

If any of you ever get a chance to go up in one I highly recommend it!!
I won a ride in a radio give away.
It is so quiet and peacefull. We didnt go up much more than 500 feet the time I went, it was a "hound n hare" race.
Landing was a little bumpy, thank goodness it was in wide open Ks prairie!
Once the ground crew got there we had to help put it all away and carry the basket over to the trailer and stow it.
Then when we got back to the staging area there was an "initiation"
The pilot had me and the other contestant (a girl) kneel down in front of him and close our eyes. (I was'nt sure what to expect)
Next thing I heard a pop and they poured champange over our heads!
Then the pilot reached into the girls blouse and put a pin on it, and the pilot's wife asked me to undo my zipper,
She put a pin on it...........
I still have that Pin!!!
The pin was made up to look like their balloon.
True story!
jdadoug