There are few things as magical as the Albuquerque
International Balloon Fiesta. Watching over 700 hot air balloons fill the
horizon, drifting on the invisible currents, is an awe-inspiring experience. It
is a sight well worth making a trip, but we New Mexicans are lucky enough to have
this happening in our own backyard.
And why Albuquerque? Well not only is our weather beautiful
in early October (okay, it’s a bit chilly in the early morning when people
begin to pile into the park), but we have a meteorological phenomenon that
makes Albuquerque uniquely suited to hot air ballooning. It’s called the
Albuquerque Box, in which northerly winds take the balloons southward, then once
the balloons ascend to a higher elevation the winds take them back in the
opposite direction, making it possible (in theory and when conditions are
right) to land right back on the field.
As you can guess, this isn’t always the way it happens. You
certainly don’t have to attend the balloon fiesta to watch the numerous
balloons flying high over the city. Much of the time balloon chase crews end up
driving around town as the balloons plunk their gondolas down in residential
neighborhoods, land in any of Albuquerque’s numerous open green spaces, and occasionally drop into streets.
As the world’s largest hot air balloon festival, Albuquerque’s
Balloon Fiesta draws visitors from all over the state, country, and world, with
over 800,000 visitors annually, which adds up to some pretty hefty crowds and
equally heavy traffic clogging up I-25 morning and evening.
But with balloon glows morning and evening, a mass ascension
on the weekends at dawn, fair-style New Mexican food chockfull of green chile, balloon
flying competitions, and a number of family-friendly booths and activities, it
is worth fighting the traffic, being jostled by
crowds, getting up hours before the sun rises, and bundling up against
the morning chill for at least one visit.
Or if you’re unfortunate enough to attend on one of the days
where there’s a wind cancellation, like we were this year, it is worth doing it
all over again the next weekend. Especially when the second time you’re blessed
with perfect fall weather and such breathtakingly beautiful sights.
