The Quinn's Awesome Journey: 10/11/07 Our Day at Balloon Fiesta

Well, I was right. Four thirty came mighty early this morning. We met twenty four other early risers at the front office at 5:15 and boarded the school bus. We're off to the Balloon Fiesta.

A little Balloon Fiesta history:

From a small gathering of 13 balloons in 1972, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has grown to become hands-down the largest balloon event in the world. Held each year during the first week in October, the Balloon Fiesta brings over 700 balloons, over 1,000 pilots and tens of thousands of spectators. Over 1000 balloons participated in the 2000 fiesta.

The first “fiesta” was launched from the parking lot of Coronado Center in uptown Albuquerque. The following year it was held at the New Mexico State Fairgrounds. By 1978 Albuquerque was playing host to the world's largest ballooning event (273 entries that year alone). Today the Balloon Fiesta includes such special events as the weekend and Wednesday mass ascensions, Balloon Glow, Night Magic Glow, and the Special Shape Rodeo and Special Shape Glowdeo where more than 100 uniquely shaped balloons participate.

The Balloon Fiesta is unusual among large events with the spectators mingling right on the launch field with the pilots and chase crews. This is definitely a sport that encourages spectator participation but one must watch out for balloons taking off and landing. It’s a little like herding cats when a hot air balloon lifts off. They go with the breeze, pilots navigating by ascending or descending into winds headed in a different direction. The “Albuquerque Box,” often lets balloonists take off and land right back at the Balloon Fiesta Park. Prevailing lower winds blow south for takeoff, with northern moving winds a few hundred feet up, creating the “Box.”

In no time at all we were at the balloon field. We were ushered into a large hospitality tent where we had our choice of coffee, tea or hot cocoa and our choice of danishes or muffins. It was chilly that early in the morning so we all made a beeline for the warm drinks. Warmed by coffee and cocoa, bellies full with banana nut muffins, we ventured out onto the balloon field. Some balloons were already up for the dawn patrol but it was hard to see them until they lit the fire in the balloons.

The sun was finally starting to peak out from behind the Sandia Mountains and we could see how many people were actually here. Thousands!

There were vendors of every kind at this event. Food vendors, jewelry vendors, pottery vendors, "junk" vendors and even Walgreen's had a tent set up selling disposable cameras, film, batteries, soft drinks, water and a few other things.

Here's a picture of one vendor that sold a little of everything.

There were lots of smells in the air as we walked down the field. Breakfast burritos, cinnamon buns and smells I couldn't even identify. It was your own fault if you went away hungry.

There was even early morning entertainment. We stopped to listen to this group play for awhile. The sound out of the pan flute was truly a sound to behold. This man really knew how to play.

A shot just before full sunrise.

Before long the sun was all the way up and Balloon Fiesta was getting underway. As I told you yesterday this is the Special Shapes Ascension Day. Huge balloons were spread out over the field ready to be inflated.

These are regular shaped balloons that are taking people for balloon rides.

What will this one look like?

Oh, so that's what it is!

Pictures of Special Shapes.

The crowd went nuts when this one took off! It was is its maiden flight in the International Balloon Fiesta. Darth Vader!

These balloons take off together and all eyes are on them to see if the balloon pilots can maneuver them so that they "kiss" before flying off.

.....and they kiss! (and the crowd went wild!)

After the Mass Ascension of the Special Shapes the regular shaped balloons took to the skies so that they could compete in special balloon games. For instance, very long poles were erected on the judging field and the balloonist had to get their balloons low enough so someone in their gondola could reach out pull a tag from the top of the pole. From the looks of it and how many couldn't do it I would say this is very difficult to do.

And the balloons took to the skies.