(well, and of course to visit my Mom!) If you have never been to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta you are missing out! I take my kids every year and we never get tired of it, especially on those perfect days when the sky is clear and blue and all of those amazing colorful balloons take to the air en masse! My kiddos twirl around on the grass, looking up to the sky, getting dizzy and giddy all at the same time. Whether you're 5 or 35 or 75 or 105, you just can't help feeling like a silly, little kid when you see these things! Especially the special shape balloons, I mean seriously... DARTH VADER and the Space Shuttle!!!
Or what about two-eyed, two-horned, flying purple people eaters?
Maybe fish with lips are more your style? And yeah, that's the moon back there!
Monkey Man digs the turtle with sneakers, while I'm a big fan of the Brazilian Bees (they always hold hands on take-off!)
But I'm a purist at heart. I just adore the regular-shaped balloons with gorgeous rainbow colors!
I mean seriously, can you get much better than that?
So here are a few general tips regarding Fiesta. You have several options on how to get there, you can drive and park at the site. Parking is usually about $10 and the entrance into the park is $6 for people 12 and up. If your kids are under 12 they are FREE! If you choose to drive, expect there to be serious lines, especially if you aren't getting out there before 7am! You can also take the NM Rail Runner and take the shuttle from the Rail Runner to the Fiesta Park. I have never personally done this, but heard from people that it's pretty convenient. Your entrance into the park will work all day, so if you go to the morning ascension, but want to come back later in the evening for the glow, you can get a wristband that will allow you to re-enter the park that day. You will want to LAYER! It is cold as a witch's titty when you arrive, but as the sun comes over the mountains it generally warms up pretty quick. I usually put the kids in long johns, with jeans and t's over them and a heavy sweatshirt or jacket and a hat and gloves or mittens. It sucks when it's dark and cold and your head and hands are freezing! Take a backpack so you have someplace to stuff all the extraneous clothing once it starts coming off! And of course, A CAMERA! This is one of the most photographed events in the world and for good reason... IT'S AWESOME! Take advantage of it and get some cool pics!
So, what do you do after you've woken up at the crack of freakin' dawn (Dawn Patrol launches at like 6:30am), watched balloons for hours and you find that you are absolutely famished? Well, you can chow down on breakfast burritos (yes, in New Mexico they are called burritos and not tacos like here in Texas) or Mini-Cinni's (baby cinnamon rolls served in a sno-cone cup) at the fiesta OR you can pile into your car and head over to Murphy's Mule Barn at 9700 2nd NW to hang with the pilots and crews and eat the most affordable breakfast in town. You might want to try these...
Hotcakes the size of your head just can't be beat! Just be aware, this place gets jam-packed and you may have a wait. And the waitstaff is iffy. They are competent for sure, but not usually very friendly! But the food is GOOD and CHEAP which is probably why it's such a fave with the balloon crews!
So there you have it, the insiders low-down on Balloon Fiesta. It's a great time and a gorgeous event, but if you want to see it and you aren't as lucky as I am with relatives that live in town, you certainly want to book your stay WELL in advance as hotels book up something like 6-8 months in advance! The fiesta usually falls on the first full week of October.
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