The

Albuquerque
International
Balloon Fiesta
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Group 6
ELC 400
 What is it?
The Albuquerque International Balloon Party is the
world's largest hot air balloon festival and takes place
every October.
For nine days in October, the Albuquerque
International Balloon Fiesta takes to the skies with over
600 balloons and crews from around the world. Since
its first convocation in 1972, the Balloon Fiesta has
become so popular that it is said to be the largest annual
international event in the United States and one of the
most photographed events in the world.
 How it started

+ The Balloon Fiesta began in 1972 as the highlight of a 50th

birthday celebration for 770 KOB Radio.
+ Albuquerque hosted the first World Hot-Air Balloon
Championships in February and the fiesta became an
international event. In 1975 Albuquerque was looking at
hosting the World Championships again, but the event was
scheduled for October. So the fiesta was moved to
correspond with the championships. To maintain interest in
Albuquerque's bid to host the championships, a balloon
rally was held in February of that year. Autumn being a far
better flying time than February, the event has remained in
early October to the present day.
When and where
is celebrated?
It is celebrated every October.
All the main events of the Balloon
Fiesta take place at Balloon Fiesta Park
in the north of Albuquerque, New
Mexico. The park is located west of the
I-25, about 30 kilometers north of
Albuquerque's Sunport International
Airport and 11 kilometers north of
downtown Albuquerque
 What do people usually do?

+ Around 750,000 visitors come to attend

the Albuquerque International Globe
Festival every year + Besides the balloons, there is a stage
located at the center of Main Street that
schedules various bands and children's acts.
+ People can go and look at the balloons
ready to fly, and they can also fly in one of
the balloons over the city of Albuquerque.
 What type of food
can we find?

+ With over one-third of a mile of

concession space on Balloon Fiesta's
Main Street, there is sure to be
something that will delight guests of
all ages.
+ From breakfast burritos to green
chile cheeseburgers and Balloon
Fiesta souvenirs to handmade arts
and crafts, be sure to take a stroll
down Main Street and experience all
that Balloon Fiesta has to offer.
 Special events &
competitions
• The Fiesta Challenge, a game where balloonists attempt to drop a
marker closest to a target.
• America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race, where special long-
distance gas balloons are inflated and then launched. The winner
of the race is the balloon that travels the farthest. Some balloons in
the race have gone as far as Canada and the U.S. East Coast.
• The Flight of the Nations Mass Ascension, where balloonists from
each nation launch, one at a time, to their national anthem and
waving their nation's flag.
• Other piloting, skill, and speed competitions.
• Music Fiesta, the fiesta invites artists for concerts and shows.
• Rainbow Ryders, the official balloon rides that people can book
and enjoy.
 Facts you didn’t know about the festival
1. Most Photographed Event in the World
2. Largest Balloon Event in the World – What started as a very small balloon event with 13
balloons in 1972 at Coronado Mall, has become the largest balloon event with about 600
balloons each year and close to 1,000 pilots.
3. Over 50 Countries Represented – Balloon enthusiasts from around the world will be
participating in this event.
4. Excellent Flying Conditions –Albuquerque’s ideal wind conditioning and fall temperatures
make it an ideal place to host this event. Balloon pilots look for ideal conditions called the
“box”. The box is when a balloon can take off at low altitudes then drift south then they
increase their altitude and drift north.
5. Typical Balloon Flight Time – A typical flight can be 45 minutes to 2 hours. But flight time is
really up to the pilot and depending on wind conditions. A typical balloon will hold 40 Gallons
of propane which will last for up to 2 hours of flight time.
Thank you!