We got up at 3am and headed out as quickly as possible. About a half an hour later, as we approached our destination, the highway turned into a parking lot. We had time before mass ascension which was scheduled for 7:00am. We could have taken a shuttle but we wanted the freedom of coming and going on our own schedule.
We were in Albuquerque for the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, an event I always dreamed of attending. This was 2022 and the Fiesta was celebrating its 50th year. It was expected that 648 balloonists from 20 countries would be participating with more than three quarter of a million spectators. We would be observing and not lifting off ourselves. Rides were limited and costly. Plus, we wanted to be up close to see and hear hundreds of balloons fire up, lift off, and float overhead.
The Balloon Fiesta is a nine day extravaganza every October. Weather permitting they have three mass ascensions during the week. These events, where all the balloons take off, are the main attractions and what we were hoping to see. Attendees, however, have many choices to fulfill their balloon-related curiosities. Early risers can take in Dawn Patrol where some pilots take off in the dark and fly until it's light enough for them to land safely. On mass ascension days they ratchet it up a bit and attendees are treated to a choreographed inflation and launch set to music. About a dozen balloons participate. These pre-dawn launches are also strategical because they provide important information to the pilots about wind and weather conditions. Another popular event is the Glowdeo during morning flights and evening glows which feature the special shaped balloons. Evening events are followed by fireworks once the last balloon has landed.
Pilots can choose to compete in several interesting precision flying events. One such challenge is the key grab. Pilots must launch at least a mile away from the field then navigate back avoiding collisions with all the other balloons. Their goal is to be the first to successfully reach a pole with an envelope attached to it. The lucky pilot who opens that envelope will find the keys to a brand new car. Studying conditions to make a wise decision about where to launch is key in these accuracy events.
The Balloon Fiesta offers other entertainment as well. You can see skydivers shoot off fireworks as they descend at night or unfurl huge American flags by day. Chainsaw carvers put on exhibitions and their work is auctioned off. Pin trading is popular with balloon enthusiasts and they gather for swaps throughout the week. And, there are plenty of vendors for tasty treats and unique merchandise.
We had been keeping an eye on the weather and news leading up to this day. Quite a few events had been cancelled the day before due to high winds, including the first mass ascension. Our fingers were crossed because if it didn't go off today we would miss out. We were there on October 2nd and the next mass ascension was on October 9th. We would be miles away by then. By the time we made it on the grounds and grabbed a place to sit it was about 6:30 or so, a half hour before launch. The crowd was restless but festive in anticipation and the setting was gorgeous with the sun beginning to rise and the Sandia Mountains in the distance. Suddenly it was announced that the launch would be delayed. This was followed by a collective groan. Apparently there was some pesky rain close by. We rolled with the flow and grabbed some food. We love fry bread and a Navajo Taco is mouth-watering at any time of day. Then we walked around and listened to some of the pilots and crew as they told stories of past flights and answered questions. The pilots were giving out pilot cards with all the important info about their balloons and crews. Some fans were frantically running from pilot to pilot apparently trying to collect cards from all 648!
As time passed I was getting more and more worried that it was a no-go. One experienced pilot offered encouragement, though. He said that sometimes when the sun peeks over the mountains the weather breaks. Sure enough, that is exactly what happened! And, looking out where the rain had been earlier, a glorious rainbow appeared. The all-clear announcement was made and immediately there was a seismic shift. You heard the hissing of propane burners, the crinkling of material as the balloons were spread out, the shouting of instructions by pilots, and the anticipatory chitchat of onlookers.
There were plenty of sights to go along with those sounds. Balloon crews hustling to situate the baskets and tethers, launch directors scurrying to coordinate lift-off, and the inflating of the balloons themselves. It was fascinating to watch the pre-launch rituals from a few feet away and to cheer on the pilots as the balloons left the ground.
For safety reasons, the mass ascension would happen in two waves. With 648 balloons that meant over 300 would take flight at about the same time. What a stunning display of vibrant colors as hundreds of balloons of all shapes and sizes inflated. The landscape was littered with balloons at various stages of inflation. Some were puffy lumps on the ground while others tilted awkwardly sideways as they filled up. Pretty quickly dozens and then hundreds of balloons took flight. What a sight against the mostly cloud-filled sky. At any moment there were balloons floating so high in the sky they looked like tiny dots and other balloons just leaving the field. I was filled with awe to say the least.
The special shaped balloons drew quite a gathering. The first special shaped balloon to fly in Albuquerque was the "Chic-I-Boom" in 1983. It was inspired by Brazilian singer/actress Carmen Miranda and featured a likeness of her face with fruits on her head. When the original Chic-I-Boom was retired, a replica of her was created and some version of her has flown in every Fiesta since 1983 and 2022 was no exception. There were 118 other special shaped balloons and they were engineering marvels. One Fiesta director had commented that it seemed as if Covid had given the engineers more time to focus on balloon design and attention to detail. I would have to agree. We saw pigs that fly, a VW bus, bears, tigers, an alien, a flying saucer, and even a screwdriver, to name a few. On the screwdriver, the basket was right under the handle and the shank extended below the basket. I could only imagine all the trial-and-error that went into creating them.
As the day drew to a close my senses were full from all they had taken in. It was a day filled with sights and sounds that I may never witness again. There are many other balloon festivals around the US, however, and I'll be looking out for them as we travel. If there is a next time, I just may be standing in a basket rising up above the crowd to get another perspective of these picturesque celebrations.
The Tail End by Lou Lou the Travel Dog
All I kept hearing about on the LONG trip to New Mexico was balloons. Balloons, balloons, balloons! I was really curious to find out what my mamas were talking about. But, I never did find out what they were. I can tell you, though, that some of the yards in this New Mexico place aren't like the ones in my old neighborhood. Sometimes there was no grass at all and sometimes it was prickly. It made me not want to do my business at all!
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