Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, held each October, turns the sky of New Mexico's Rio Grande Valley into a riot of color, with almost 600 hot air balloons from across the world.
This historic festival, which began with just 13 balloons in 1972, has evolved into a 9-day extravaganza encompassing 365 acres, making it the world's largest ballooning event. It's also one of the most popular photography events in the United States.
There's a ton of music and entertainment spread across three stages, with events like balloon races, chainsaw carving competitions, skydiving exhibitions, pyrotechnics, and more.
Featuring entertainment on three stages, with balloon races, chainsaw carving competitions, skydiving performances, fireworks, and more.
If you attend, start your festival visit early since the magic begins at 6:30 a.m. with the Morning Glow.
Consider the pre-dawn darkness, and as the sun slowly begins to illuminate the mountains to the east, you notice what appear to be huge fireflies. One, two, three, four, five, and so on, until the morning sky is filled with illuminated balloon silhouettes.
Prepare your cameras for the major event, the Mass Ascension of Hot Air Balloons, which begins at 7:00 a.m.
Additional Info: The hot air balloon rides are charged, and you can inquire about the prices at the venue.
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Festival Dates 2022: 1st October – 9th October , 2022
Famous For: Hot air balloon festival
