Hot Air Balloons in The Land Of Enchantment
Balloons at dawn. Picture by Scott Williams shared in Wikipedia.
I have seen pictures of those multiple balloons so many times. I don't know where, but I have seen them. Hasn't everybody?
I've actually seen the balloons, by chance, when I was visiting New Mexico. I just happened to be there at the right time.
Drive Or Fly
If you want to see the balloons, and you are already in the USA, you are in luck. If you have the time, you can drive for miles in the USA, from one state to another, on wonderful motorways, with 24 hour burger bars, salad bars and food stops, and inexpensive out of town motels to break your journey.
We used to do that every weekend. On one occasion we drove all the way from our rented home in Rockville, Maryland, just north of Washington DC, overnight down to Atlanta, Georgia. On another occasion we drove from Washington to New York State. It was always a great break for us, our child, and a visitor from Europe. If you save your airmiles, that's good, too.
Oct - 7-17 2017.
Article in Wikipedia.
Official website.
A Little History
It started in 1972 with one man wanting a balloon for publicity. They then thought of who had the most balloons, just over what we in Britain would call a dozen (12), actually lucky thirteen, in England. They flew them over. Not all arrived, but most did.
The Albuquerque Box
Once you reach Albuquerque, that is a great place for ballooning, and balloonists - what's the correct terminology? Albuquerque has mountains on one side, to the East, the low river, and the winds create a square draft so that a balloon can be blown around the square or circle and sometimes land back where it started!
Each year the event increased until they had over a thousand balloons. They decided quality was better than quantity, and cut the numbers back to one year, 750, one year 600.
On different occasions you can see a launch of something different, such as the funny shaped balloons. Birds, animals, planes. Disney characters.
Do I need to buy a ticket? How near do I need to be? You can see the balloons overhead at a distance. If you want to visit during the festival, you might enjoy booking cheaper out of town if your first choice accommodation is fully booked. Whilst you are enjoying other activities, the balloons provide an interesting addition to your photos.
The joy of being at the festival is that the balloons are so big. And you can actually enjoy rides.
Launch day is spectacular. They hold photo competitions. You can go the launch field to watch them take off, or one of the landing sites to see them land.
Look at the website. Online you will find merchandise, hotel booking suggestions.
Is it popular? Yes. The event is huge. A major tourist draw for the city, at the time and as a result of making the city known, throughout the year. The main site is the size of several football fields. To cope with millions of visitors they have a park and ride scheme.
You have to pay to park at designated points. At 'specially negotiated rates' they say.
When to go - which days?
October every year for nine days. It has just started now Oct 8 in 2017. You can book balloon flights. If you miss it, there's also a museum at the launch site.
What time of day?
There's something for larks and something for owls. That day starts at 6 am with the dawn patrol and laser show.
You can see balloons in dawn mist, as in the picture above, watch balloons in flight in full colour in daylight, and balloons ethereal, lit and static, at night, at least at dusk.
What Can You Buy?
From the main show online shop:
First of all tickets for the show. 2017 prices are $45 for five tickets, saving @1 per ticket.
Bookmarks, a Bucket List Book, a colouring book for children, a calendar for 2018, a mug, a 3D puzzle, pins, posters, a snowglobe for Christmas or as an all year paperweight, a shot glass, and patches.
Patches
Patches appeal to me. My wheelie suitcase has a tear. I've never been keen on torn jeans. Tears in clothes expose me to mosquito bites and irritation from rubbing. I keep a stock of patches in my sewing boxes. Then, when I have a hole or slit in a garment, I can stick on and/or sew on a patch of a suitable colour.
BALLOON MUSEUM
What can you see?
Short films about ballooning and a film from a flight over Albuquerque. the science of hot air and gas ballooning. Weather. Use of balloons in wartime, WWI and Zeppelins, Japanese use of balloons.
BUY From The Museum Shop:
The museum shop is open all year Tuesday through Sunday. (That's an Americanism. In the UK we would say the Britishism, Tuesday to Sunday.) You can buy clothing, wall hangings, ornaments, items related to the ballooning and other New Mexico artwork.
Is the museum and shop there outside the event dates? Yes, open all year.
VISIT
The museum has videos and activities, a buffet, a bacon for viewing the park, and they say the best view of the park.
You can also hire the museum for a wedding.
MUSEUM HOURS/ADMISSION
Tues-Sun, 9-5.
Cost: Four US dollars, for locals $1 discount with a valid New Mexico ID), seniors 65+ $2, children 4-12 $1, children 3 and under, free; Free admission Sunday morning 9 am to 1 pm, and the first Friday of the month except October.
So, if you can't get to Albuquerque for the October balloon festival, if you can arrive for a long weekend the first weekend of the month, Friday and Sunday mornings you get free admission to the museum. Ans spend what you saved in the shop.
Where To Go
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
9201 Balloon Museum Drive NE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87113
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albuquerque_International_Balloon_Fiesta
http://www.balloonfiesta.com
https://www.visitusa.org.uk/default.aspx?pname=Travel-Planner
https://www.newmexico.org
https://www.visitalbuquerque.org
Author, Angela Lansbury.
