Hot-Air Balloons Plus The 2023 Annular Solar Eclipse
In addition to thrilling attendees with the launch of more than 500 hot-air balloons in mass ascensions, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico will be a great place to view the annular solar eclipse that will take place on Saturday, October 14, 2023. This year’s Balloon Fiesta unfolds October 7-15. The annular solar eclipse will start becoming visible in the midst of the scheduled signature mass ascension at 9:13 a.m. on October 14.
New Mexico is one of eight states in the path of the solar eclipse to have a view of the “ring of fire,” a rare phenomenon where the moon does not fully cover the sun, leaving a thin outer ring visible. This will make Balloon Fiesta Park a prime location to view the eclipse’s totality.
Beginning at 9:13 a.m., the partial eclipse will continue progressing into the annular eclipse and the ring of fire at 10:34 a.m. The ring of fire will burn for about 4 minutes and 50 seconds. The annular eclipse will end at 10:39 a.m. and the partial eclipse at 12:09 p.m.
Balloon Fiesta guests will be able to enjoy a scheduled mass ascension followed by an “eclipse glow,” which will feature balloons on the launch field in the darkness from the eclipse.
NASA will have a presence throughout the Balloon Fiesta and will be giving away 80,000 solar eclipse viewing glasses for guests coming in that morning to enjoy the galactic event. Along with viewing glasses being provided, a tent will be staffed by NASA experts offering presentations, exhibits, and more about the eclipse and their mission.
Additional information is available at balloonfiesta.com/event-schedule.
Blue Compass RV Celebrates With An RV Giveaway
Blue Compass RV CEO Jon Ferrando surprised a family by gifting them the Jayco RV they had ordered.
Blue Compass RV commemorated the sale of its 150,000th RV in July by giving away an RV to a local mechanic and his family at its Blue Compass RV dealership in Cincinnati, Ohio.
“This is an incredible milestone for our company to sell over 150,000 RVs in a little over five years, continuing our momentum as the fastest RV company to achieve this mark,” said Jon Ferrando, founder, president, and CEO. “All of our associates helped us attain this historic milestone in record time. Last year we gave away our 100,000th RV to a deserving military veteran.”
Speaking of this year’s milestone, he added, “We surprised our customer by ripping up the contract and giving away the 2023 Jay Flight 264BH he was purchasing to go on trips with his family. Thank you to our customers and associates for making this happen, along with Ken Walters and his team at Jayco for helping us give this unit away to a deserving family.”
Blue Compass RV has more than 100 RV stores in 33 states and recently was named to the Inc. 5000 annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America.