One of Neil Young's most underrated songs is about it. And it is certainly one of the most uniquely named cities. Albuquerque. Albuquerque, New Mexico is a mid-sized city in the United States and a huge city by New Mexico standards. At 560,000 people, it has plenty to offer tourists throughout the year - Sandia Peak Tramway, the various hikes to explore in the city and nearby, green and red Chile festival, old town, and much more. But nothing compares to what it offers every year in early October. Balloons. Everywhere. The Balloon Fiesta, or also known as the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, has been going on for 46 years and generally sees over 500 balloons go up with hot air. It is the largest balloon rally in the world and a must see for any RVer or anyone interested in seeing something truly spectacular in person.
There are campsites at the Balloon Fiesta Park itself, which can be booked through the balloon fiesta website. They are booked for 2018 and have a wait list of over 800, but the window opens again at the end of October for 2019. There are dry camping spots for $35 and $45 a night, premium sites with 30 Amp and water at $75, dry camping sites next to the launch field with entry passes included for $90, and then there are the President's Compound sites at $175 a night which includes water, 30-50 Amp RV hook-ups, 4 entry passes and positioned on a bluff overlooking the launch field. Though the sites are setup rally style and basically in a big parking lot, most RVers recommend staying in one if it's possible.
There are over 80,000 people coming to the event every day and that adds a bit of a travel headache for anyone trying to visit, especially in a large RV. There are plenty of rallies and caravans that specialize in attending events like the Fiesta, too. “There’s really no bad place for viewing the balloons while at Balloon Fiesta Park. The camping and RV lots are positioned so that some guests choose to watch from their space, but it’s always fun to experience things with the crowd on the field,” Amanda Molina, a Balloon Fiesta Media Relations Representative, says. There are other options for viewing as well, which will be mentioned below.
Hot-Air Balloons being prepared at a dated Albuquerque Balloon festival etched in time. [Photo/Scott Williams]
The festival first started in 1972 to highlight a 50th birthday celebration for KOB radio. In 1972, the largest gathering of balloons was only 19 hot air balloons, something the organizers wanted to beat at that time. Unfortunately, only 13 showed up that year, but it prompted a positive response from the 20,000 people that came to watch. They had a "Roadrunner-Coyote Balloon Race" in honor of the Looney Tunes' famous cartoon and a play on the regular "hare-and-hounds" balloon races that happened at other rallies. The race still goes on today. The rally grew every year and peaked at 1,019 balloons in 2000. Since then the Balloon Fiesta organizers decided to limit the number of balloons due to growth in the city and lack of landing spots, as well as a desire for quality instead of quantity. Nowadays, there are about 500-600 balloons. And they aren’t all shaped like a traditional balloon. There are ones shaped like an old wagon, Yoda, Darth Vader, a bee, etc. “The Balloon Fiesta is different in that it allows guests to walk up close to the balloons; guests can be just steps away from the balloon as it inflates and eventually launches,” Molina says. This year will mark the 47th annual event, themed “Carry Me Away.”
So why Albuquerque? First, it's almost always sunny. Also, the sky. The New Mexico skies are unlike any other in the world and stretch on forever. The backdrop of the Sandia mountain range makes a picturesque scene. Consequently, Balloon Fiesta is sponsored by Canon and said to be the most photographed in the world. Another reason is what's called the "Albuquerque box,” Molina says. The "box" is a set of wind patterns that make it easy for balloonists, or balloon pilots, to navigate in a way where they can return to the original launch site. Basically balloonists take off and head north, then go higher and the winds push them back south where they are able to get low again and head back towards the launch site. In October, when the nights are cool and the days are warm, it creates the ideal floating condition more times than not (balloons don’t take off each of the 9 days during the festival if the weather does not permit).
There are other campgrounds around the area if one wants a truer camping experience. Two KOA campgrounds - one north of the city and one on the east side - are well reviewed and have all the amenities standard to a KOA. American RV Resort on the west side of the city is said to have a shuttle to the Fiesta. Camping at Sandia Resort and Casino is a similar experience to camping at the Balloon Fiesta itself (i.e. it’s a parking lot) and offers great views of the balloons taking flight.
There are plenty of places to see the balloons without even going to the venue location at Balloon Fiesta Park. Vista Del Norte Park on Osuna Rd. is a spectacular place to see them, especially because a lot of balloonists use this park to land. North Domingo Baca Park on Paseo Del Norte is also a great viewing area. Though, at least one day, it’s great to venture to Fiesta Park itself. Molina says, “Walking around Balloon Fiesta Park during a mass ascension and seeing all of the guests’ excitement as the balloons prepare and finally launch is a true treat. There’s truly not another event like this on Earth.” So what are you waiting for? Get going to Albuquerque!
Destinations, Entertainment, Features, New Mexico, Open Road