Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
albuquerque international balloon fiesta yearly hot air balloon festival take place albuquerque new mexico early october balloon fiesta nineday event occurring first full week october hot air balloon year far beginning merely balloon event largest balloon festival world followed grand est mondial air france león international balloon festival mexico balloon fiesta began highlight th birthday celebration kob radio radio station manager dick mckee asked sid cutter owner cutter flying service first person hot air balloon new mexico kob could use new hotair balloon part festivity two began discussing ballooning along conversation help oscar kratz mckee asked largest gathering hot air balloon date balloon england kratz asked get cutter agreed try got commitment pilot bad weather kept arriving time first fiesta ended gathering balloon april sponsored kob first event located parking lot coronado center shopping mall spectator balloonist arizona california iowa michigan minnesota nevada texas taking part mckee cutter kratz three men originally started balloon race first fiesta incorporated roadrunnercoyote balloon race balloon roadrunner others coyote balloon roadrunner balloon actually emblazoned likeness warner bros character winner race – coyote landed closest roadrunner – piccard flying balloon company design construction wife also placed race race continued part balloon fiesta today next year albuquerque hosted first world hotair balloon championship february fiesta became international event albuquerque looking hosting world championship event scheduled october fiesta moved correspond championship maintain interest albuquerque bid host championship balloon rally held february year autumn far better flying time february event remained early october present day balloon fiesta grew year decade today largest balloon convention world number registered balloon reached peak prompting balloon fiesta board limit number starting citing desire quality quantity limit changed – citing recent growth city loss landing zone given day festival spectator may launch field provided rare opportunity observe inflation take procedure countless people gather landing site city watch incoming balloon limit increased balloon fiesta th edition like public gathering postponed one year due covid pandemic resumed next year dawn patrol began balloon fiesta two california balloonist developed position lighting system allowed fly night dawn patrol pilot take sunrise fly light enough see landing site fellow balloonist appreciate dawn patrol watch balloon get early idea wind speed direction different altitude one biggest event fiesta participating balloon launch two wave filling sky hundred balloon launch director also known zebra blackandwhitestriped outfit serve traffic cop coordinating launch balloon leave field safe coordinated manner first wave mass ascension typically begin around around time albuquerque sunrise early october many local artist take advantage balloon favorite subject matter painting balloon often land albuquerque neighborhood many resident watch balloon comfort backyard many nontraditional uniquely shaped balloon launched time famous shape include milk cow wagon coach twin bee many others like soda pop can animal popular part event family see balloon different shape size large number balloon illuminated night propane burner stand static take event glowdeo night glow special shape balloon evening balloon glow often followed firework display various event like fiesta challenge game balloonist attempt drop marker closest target america challenge gas balloon race special longdistance gas balloon inflated launched winner race balloon travel farthest balloon race gone far canada u east coast flight nation mass ascension balloonist nation launch one time national anthem waving nation flag piloting skill speed competition music fiesta fiesta invite artist concert show rainbow ryders official balloon ride people book enjoy convention also become major showcase new mexican culture history feature numerous cultural exhibition fiesta one albuquerque largest tourist attraction constitutes major source income city local business albuquerque also instateresident balloonist people fiesta logged visitor typically tourist fiesta visitor take thousand picture balloon surprise several year fiesta sponsored kodak given title kodak albuquerque international balloon fiesta though title usually used print ad official memorabilia fiesta presented canon japanese camera imaging company success fiesta depends part cool albuquerque morning temperature october albuquerque box box set predictable wind pattern exploited navigate balloon low elevation wind tend northerly north higher elevation tend southerly balloonist use wind navigate vertical box ascend slightly launch park move south ascend move north descend repeat box land back launch park quite nearby event involving onfield target key grab pilot attempt grab prize including set key new vehicle atop tall flexible pole uncommon see balloon make pass target simply working box keep returning field balloon fiesta park balloon launched located northern edge city park multiuse field home many event throughout year andersonabruzzo albuquerque international balloon museum opened ground museum dedicated history science sport art ballooning innovative form flight balloon fiesta organized albuquerque international balloon fiesta inc c nonprofit organization albuquerque international balloon fiesta inc owns trademark name balloon fiesta october landing smokey bear imaged balloon collided became entangled one kkobs radio transmitter tower three passenger able climb basket onto tower however tower energized could led electrocution passenger set foot ground kkob shut transmitter following accident order enable climb safety accident recorded several local television station footage become standard story number televised reality program deal caught camera incident morning october balloon named blue moon tuscon arizona usa collided one guy wire kkob tower causing tower collapse one injured incident pilot subsequently made safe landing hot air balloon festival official website balloon fiesta park – city albuquerque