The world’s largest gathering of balloonists takes place every October in this New Mexico city.
By Bert Henderson, F385218
August 2015
Yoda and Darth Vader loomed in front of me like wisps of air floating through a dream. I came back to reality when I heard my wife make a comment about the balloons. My attention then focused on the majesty, awe, beauty, grace, and wonderment of attending the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
We were there in 2014 for the first day’s “mass ascension” — the morning rise of hundreds of balloons, which started at 7:00 a.m. The air was cold and the sky was crystalline, allowing wind speeds well below the safe limit of 10 miles per hour. Pilots would have a smooth and uncomplicated flight.
Approximately 540 balloon teams had registered for the event. This included 22 international teams from places such as Belgium, Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Lithuania, New Zealand, South Africa . . . the list was impressive. All of those balloons rose silently into the early morning sky; the only sound was an occasional roar of a propane burner or power plant, signaling a bid for altitude.
With so many lighter-than-air objects leaving the earth at once, you’d expect chaos, but the field officials, nicknamed zebras because of their black-and-white striped shirts, made sure that the giants got up safely. Each rising balloon was more beautiful than the previous one, with seemingly all shapes and sizes, colors, and carrying capacities represented.
In 2014 about 100 special-shape-balloons took to the air at the Fiesta, which included Yoda and Darth Vader. These delightful balloons can be very expensive — up to $500,000. Some of them can fly only 500 to 600 hours before being grounded permanently.
Earlier, at about 6:30 a.m., a group of six or so balloonists called the Dawn Patrol ascended into the sky to test the flying conditions for the other participants. Ground officials count on the Dawn Patrol’s report before allowing takeoff of the remaining balloons.
When you’re on the field, you can see the huge amount of preparation by the crews as they spread the airless balloon fabric on the ground in their assigned area. Because almost 100,000 people are on the launch field at any one time, keeping spectators off the fragile balloon material is a full-time job. Everyone must stay away from the craft during inflation, for safety reasons; the burners produce tremendous heat.
The basket is brought out next, and assembled with the supports for the burners. Balloon baskets are sometimes called gondolas. They are usually made of woven wicker or rattan, but sometimes aluminum.
The rigging for the balloon is next. Most balloons are made of nylon fabric (coated to reduce porosity or leakage), with fire-resistant fabric located nearer the burner. Before the envelope can be heated, it is opened by using air from a very large fan. Then the hot air created by propane burners can start filling it. A small, self-contained instrumentation panel is placed in the basket, so the pilots know their rate of climb or descent; their height; and the temperature of air inside the balloon.
People are naturally very curious about balloons and ballooning. On the field, spectators can be close enough to the pilots to ask questions. Once you have an up-close-and-personal experience of seeing the burners, instrumentation, and basket, you understand how small an area the flight crew shares while flying.
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta began in 1972 as an event to celebrate the 50th birthday of a local radio station. Albuquerque balloonist Sid Cutter organized a rally of 13 hot-air balloons. The inaugural event, which was held in a shopping mall parking lot, drew about 10,000 people.
A major race of gas-filled balloons has been held annually at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta since 1995. A team from Spain won the 2014 America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race by taking off from the Fiesta grounds, flying 1,189 miles, and landing near Campbellsville, Kentucky, 53 hours later. Other competitions highlight the navigational skills of the pilots and the crews. The pilots have to master the winds to get to a target. The fly-in tasks may involve dropping a weighted marker, sometimes called a baggie, on a target within Balloon Fiesta Park. Or pilots may fly to poles set up in the park and try to drop a ring on them.
During the balloon competitions, a chainsaw-carving invitational also is under way on the grounds. Plus, live music and entertainers brighten the atmosphere. On some evenings, major musical acts perform.
You may decide, as I did, to attend the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta through an RV caravan company. That way, your rally fees will likely cover tickets for all of the events, transportation to and from your coach to the balloon field, several meals, and water and electricity for your coach. Typically the tour company also offers day trips to other fascinating sites in the area.
FMCA Tour Connection, powered by Fantasy RV Tours, offers an RV caravan to the International Balloon Fiesta. The 2015 Fantasy RV Tours trip already is sold out, but you can join fellow FMCA members in 2016 by contacting Fantasy at (855) 385-3622; or, visit www.fantasyrvtours.com/fmca.
With all the excitement at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, this is an attraction you shouldn’t miss. It usually occurs the first week in October. Make a point to visit Albuquerque as the balloons rise!
2015 Balloon Fiesta
The 2015 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place Saturday, October 3, through Sunday, October 11, at Balloon Fiesta Park north of the city.
Competitions will include flying to targets within one mile of the launch field; dropping a weighted marker on a target in the park; and navigating to one of several “ring toss” poles and attempting to place a ring over the top of it. The America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race also will start at the grounds.
Other traditional events will include mass ascensions, a special-shape balloon rodeo, a night balloon glow, and fireworks. Flight of the Nations, a midweek mass ascension, involves balloons from around the world, each carrying the flag of its respective country.
Booths with exhibits, and those selling food and merchandise, are open on the grounds. Live performances and bands, as well as a chainsaw-carving competition, will take place.
Reservations for RV parking for this year’s event opened in October of 2014. As of June 2015, only dry-camping sites ($30 per night) still were available. Other types of sites were sold out. Overnight RV parking starts on the Monday before the Fiesta begins, and fees are half price Monday through Thursday before the Fiesta. For more information about RV camping, call (888) 422-7277 or (505) 821-1000, ext. 107; or, visit www.balloonfiesta.com.
Admission ticket prices vary according to the number of sessions you attend. Festival attendees pay per session, not per day. There are basically two sessions each day, one in the morning and one in the later afternoon/evening. A $10 parking fee is charged per vehicle per session. Parking passes may be purchased in advance at the Balloon Fiesta office. The city operates park-and-ride locations at several spots around the city; this option is less expensive.
A full schedule of events, park-and-ride info, and more is available at www.balloonfiesta.com or by calling (888) 422-7277 or (505) 821-1000. Tip: Look for the “Guest Guide 2015” in pdf form on the Fiesta’s website. This 24-page guide includes the Fiesta schedule, fees, parking locations, maps, and more.