Mom Knows Best: Balloon Fiesta

Showing posts with label Balloon Fiesta. Show all posts

Free Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Admission For New Mexico Residents

Want to attend the International Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta for free? If you live in New Mexico, you can attend the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta for free. Keep reading to learn how you can get free tickets to the Balloon Fiesta.

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is an event that has happened every year for the past 53 years. This hot air balloon event is a 9-day spectacular event that includes over 500 hot air balloons. It is a must-see event!

Being such a huge event, one would think that everyone living in New Mexico has had a chance to attend the balloon event. Sadly, for many families who live in New Mexico, the cost of admission tickets is too expensive. At $20 a ticket per person, that can be too much money.

Attention New Mexico Residents! Want to attend the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta for free?

New this year at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 2026 is New Mexico Day, which will include free general admission for all New Mexico residents.

This free admission day is huge! I have lived in New Mexico for 28 years, and the Balloon Fiesta has never offered free admission to New Mexico residents. While the free admission to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is only on one day, it is awesome that you can get in free to see the hot air balloons.

If you live in New Mexico, mark your calendars for Monday, October 5, 2026, to attend the Balloon Fiesta for free. There will be plenty to see. From a drone light show to a balloon launch of over 500 hot air balloons, to even balloon competitions.

While general admission is free, parking fees will still apply. To avoid parking fees, learn about how you can bike to the balloon fiesta. The balloon fiesta offers a free Bike Valet service. If biking to the Balloon Fiesta Park is not an option, then consider car pooling with friends to save money on parking.

About New Mexico Day 2026: Attention New Mexico Residents!

+ Monday, October 5, 2026, will be New Mexico Day at Balloon Fiesta

+ As a special thank you for your support through the years, general admission will be free for all New Mexico residents

+ Present your photo ID or utility bill with a New Mexico address to a ticket booth (located next to all gates) and receive your ticket

+ This promotion is on Monday, October 5, only

+ No rainchecks or refunds will apply

+ Parking fees will still apply

This free day at Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is for all New Mexico Residents

Anyone with a photo ID or utility bill with a New Mexico address can get in for free. Present your photo ID or utility bill with a New Mexico address to a ticket booth (located next to all gates) and receive your ticket.

Monday, October 5, 2026, is New Mexico Day at the Balloon Fiesta!

As a special thank you for your support through the years, general admission will be free on that day for all New Mexico residents. Present your photo ID or utility bill with a New Mexico address at the entry gate for free admission.

This promotion will be on Monday, October 5, only! No rainchecks or refunds will apply. Parking fees will still apply.

Learn more about New Mexico Day at the Balloon Fiesta HERE

Check out these articles about the Balloon Fiesta

The Best Ways To Get To The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Will Leave You Speechless

Biking To Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Insider Tips

My Favorite Special Shaped Balloons at The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

Every year I attend the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and have been doing so for the past 10 years. I am lucky that this hot air balloon event takes place in my hometown. This is a must-see bucket list event that everyone needs to attend at least once.

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is an Event Like No Other. For nine days in October, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® creates an enchanted world of special-shaped balloon rodeos, twilight balloon glows, and vibrant balloon-filled skies. Brisk autumnal mornings in the Rio Grande Valley create an otherworldly backdrop for the breathtaking majesty of our most popular event, Mass Ascension of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

My favorite event at the Balloon Fiesta is The Special Shapes Rodeo

If I had to choose my favorite event at the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Fiesta it would be the Special Shapes Rodeo. This event happens in the morning and is the mass ascension of hundreds of special-shaped hot air balloons. These are balloons that have unique shapes like animals, trucks, cartoon characters, and more. Check out some of the special shape balloons from 2023.

These are the balloons that I get excited about while watching the balloons float up into the sky. It is so cool to look at them from different angles.

The balloons with the special shapes are my favorite ones to photograph. I love taking photos and having them made in canvas art pieces for my home. I have photos of my favorite special shapes hanging up in my living room and bathroom.

Special Shape Balloons Are One of Many Different Types of Balloons to Fly During The Balloon Fiesta

Special shape balloons are unique and creatively designed balloons that deviate from the traditional round shape. They can take on various forms, including characters, products, and whimsical creatures. Special-shaped balloons can be up to 160ft tall. Regular hot air balloons are usually 108 feet tall.

My favorite Special Shape Balloons over the past 10 years

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is the best place to see special-shaped hot air balloons. Typically the event has around 100+ Special-Shaped Balloons and every year there are new shapes to discover. Last year 16 new special-shaped balloons made their first Balloon Fiesta appearance.

Since there are so many balloons on the field, it can be hard to see all the different shaped balloons. On most days, there can be around 500 balloons floating into the sky. That is why I recommend attending the event for several days.

Even as a frequent Balloon Fiesta attended, many balloons are still new to me. I also have some favorite shapes that I look for every year. The colorful balloons always bring such joy to me and I decided to go down memory lane by looking at all the balloon pictures I have taken over the years. Below you will find some of my favorite Special Shape Balloons over the past 10 years.

Over the past ten years, my photo quality has improved due to factors like the weather and my photo equipment. So enjoy the pictures.

This balloon was from the Netherlands

The biggest balloon at the 2017 Fiesta also happened to be the biggest hot air balloon in the world. "It’s 44 meters (144 feet) wide. It's 30 meters (98 feet) high."

Creamland Dairy

Airabelle is a 120-foot by 80-foot, 910-pound hot air balloon, and she took flight for the first time in 1989. When she made her first appearance in the sky since 2018 this year at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®, it was a sight to see.

Because of Airabelle’s large size, it takes a village (and perfect wind conditions) to get her successfully up in the air. At least 16 people must carry Airabelle, and the wind should ideally be traveling north – toward open fields large enough for her to land in. All of the hard work is worth it because Airabelle is a cherished member of the Albuquerque community.

Buzzy The Bee, Lilly Little Bee, Joey Little Bee

The Bees are also a favorite of many people. These three balloons are a family and have velcro on their hands. They always hold hands as they go up in the air.

Tom, Jerry, Tweety, and Sylvester

A Penguin

Butterfly

Angry Bird

Not Sure of its name

These are just a few of the many special-shaped balloons that you will see at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. This year this amazing event happens October 4th - 12th 2025. To get more information head to balloonfiesta.com

Check out some other Balloon Fiesta Articles

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Is Celebrating 50 Years

The Best Ways To Get To The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Will Leave You Speechless

Biking To Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Insider Tips

Balloon Fiesta Memories From The Past Twenty Four Years

As a local Albuquerque resident, I have been attending the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta hot air balloon event for over 24 years. From attending as a spectator to attending as a media person, I never get bored with seeing all the colorful balloons in the sky.

I have lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico for 26 years. I love so many things about living here. From the beautiful weather to awesome food all the way to the hot air balloons, this is a place that I am proud to call home.

I moved to Albuquerque in 1997 with my husband and 2 children. I moved from Salt Lake City as my husband was relocating here with a new job. I knew nothing about Albuquerque, except for the name from watching the Roadrunner cartoon show.

My husband went to the library in Utah and brought home a book about Albuquerque, that was written many years ago. The book showed a Native American lady cooking bread in an outdoor oven. I thought that I was moving to a place in the past.

The Land Of Enchantment

My family arrived in Albuquerque on Christmas Eve. The first thing that I noticed about Albuquerque was how warm the weather was. I believe the temperature was in the 60’s with no snow. I was so happy to celebrate Christmas without the cold snow. I was not a fan of snow as I had grown up in Chicago. I was one happy girl.

The next week, I was outside and I saw a hot air balloon in the sky. It was such a pretty site. I later found out that Albuquerque was the place for hot air balloons. I attended my first hot air balloon event on Valentine’s Day but did not get to see the balloons launch as we arrived late to the event.

I did learn about the many wonders of hot air balloons and about an event called the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

What is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta?

An Event Like No Other ~ For nine days in October, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® creates an enchanted world of special-shaped balloon rodeos, twilight balloon glows, and vibrant balloon-filled skies. Brisk autumnal mornings in the Rio Grande Valley create an otherworldly backdrop for the breathtaking majesty of our most popular event, Mass Ascension of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

My memories of The Balloon Fiesta over the Years

I have been attending the Balloon Fiesta over the years for about 24 years. My family moved away for a couple years during this time. The first Balloon Fiesta that I can remember attending was in October 1999. I was very pregnant with my 3rd child at the time.

I fondly remember being amazed at all the hot air balloons and being able to see them up close. I remember my two children getting trading cards from the balloon crew folks. The one thing that is the best memory from that day of attending a show that had over 500 hot air balloons floating in the sky was my unborn child dancing inside of me to the music that was playing.

Over the next 16 years of living in Albuquerque, my family attended the Balloon Fiesta every couple of years. It was a show that amazed me every time. I never grew tired of seeing all the colorful balloons, especially the special shapes of hot air balloons.

Some years we went to the show of hot air balloons in the morning to watch the Mass Accesion of balloons rising into the air. We always made sure to bring homemade breakfast burritos and hot coffee. While other years we made plans to watch the balloon Glodeo event at nighttime. My kids enjoyed watching the balloons light up in the dark.

I applied to be on the Balloon Fiesta Media Team

Things all changed when I signed up to attend the balloon fiesta as part of the media team. It was the year 2016 and my family had grown to 5 children. I was a stay-at-home mom who was a blogger.

I decided to apply for the Balloon Fiesta Media Team. I was so excited when I received my approval notice. I was now able to attend this marvelous event of hot air balloons as a part of the media team. This meant that I could attend the event and share my experience with my blog readers.

The Balloon Fiesta Media have their own tent. This tent had a tower that allows photographers to see the balloons at higher levels so they could have better views of the balloons. While at the media tent, I love that I can mingle with other people who work for the media.

I have met other bloggers, newspaper reporters, magazine editors, folks who traveled for a living, and so many other people who were there to take photos and videos of the balloons. I enjoyed learning about what other people did for a living. I also learned so much about photography.

My Balloon Fiesta Photos over the years

Since I have been attending the Fiesta for a long time, I have seen many advances in the way folks captured the pictures of the hot air balloons. In the early 2000s, Kodak was a huge sponsor selling disposable cameras at the event.

Then smartphones replaced the disposable camera but many people on the media team still used cameras and the new photo sponsor was Cannon. I remember the Cannon booth where they allowed you to rent a camera for the event.

I don’t have many photos from when I attended this event before 2016 but I have plenty of photos from then on. Most of my photos are on my website and I love looking at them. Over the years of being on the media team, I have had many different cameras and phones. I love seeing the quality of my photos improve over the years.

Check out my Balloon Fiesta Articles from over the years

https://www.momknowsbest.net/2022/10/things-to-do-at-albuquerque-balloon.html

https://www.momknowsbest.net/2022/01/albuquerque-international-balloon.html

https://www.momknowsbest.net/2019/12/the-best-ways-to-get-to-albuquerque.html

https://www.momknowsbest.net/2019/02/the-albuquerque-balloon-fiesta-will.html

http://www.momknowsbest.net/2016/09/biking-to-albuquerque-balloon-fiesta.html

Things To Do At The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (When The Balloons Don't Go Up)

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a 9-day hot air balloon festival that takes place every October in the state of New Mexico. Since the event takes place outdoors, the weather may interfere with the balloons ascending into the air, so be prepared with these other activities.

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta just celebrated 50 years and many things do not as planned. For 9 days the outdoor event was supposed to be an enchanted world of special shape balloon rodeos, twilight balloon glows, and vibrant balloon-filled skies. The problem was mother nature had other plans and the weather did not cooperate. So many of the balloon events were canceled.

While New Mexico is the perfect place for hot air balloons with the Albuquerque Box*. Days of persistent rain, wind, and shifting weather patterns made the sky a dangerous place for the hot air balloons. That meant that the ballooning events for many of the 9 days were canceled. Out of the nine days with 14 events, only 6 balloon events happened. Those 6 events all happened in the morning with balloon ascensions and none of the nighttime balloon glowdeos took place this year at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. When compared to the 2021 Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, 2022 was not a good year for the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque.

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Tip ~ Plan to attend more than one Hot Air Balloon event, that way you have a backup event on the schedule if one gets canceled.

*Albuquerque's predictable wind patterns, known as the “Albuquerque Box,” make it easy for balloon pilots to navigate in the Rio Grande Valley. The area's cool air temperature in the early morning also helps the balloons rise faster and handle better.

What to do at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Site if the hot air balloons do go up into the sky

The weather in Albuquerque can be unpredictable at times. You made plans to attend a session at the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque and the weather looked ok when you headed to the Balloon Fiesta Park. You pay your parking fee, park your car, and then pay to get into the Ballooning event. Then the wind starts to pick up and the hot air balloons are unable to inflate. The hot air balloons are unable to do their morning mass ascension or their nighttime glowdeo.

So now what? You paid plenty of money to see over 500 hot air balloons rise up into the sky and that did not happen. Should you leave the balloon fiesta park? The answer is no as there is plenty to do at the event beyond watching hot air balloons. Keep reading to discover many other activities of things to do at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.

Admission to all these events are free once inside Balloon Fiesta gates. ~ except for number 3

1. The Balloon Discovery Center

The Balloon Discovery Center is a fun learning place for the whole family. It is focused on educating children about hot air balloons but is packed full of fascinating information for everyone. Kids can pick up a passport activity booklet that guides them through nearly a dozen stations teaching everything from Albuquerque's unique wind pattern to weaving a balloon basket. The Balloon Discovery Center also has a room devoted to learning about NASA.

2. Artisan Tent

The Artisan tent is an arts and crafts show located on-site during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. With around 30 artisans featured, there is a little something for everyone. From jewelry to amazing things to hang on your walls, these are high-quality crafts. So be sure to plan your stroll through the artisan tent to take home a wonderful handcrafted souvenir to remember your trip.

3. Balloon Museum

The Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum is the place to learn about the history of hot air balloons. The Balloon Museum is located immediately south of the balloon park. Inside you'll find interactive exhibits, lots of history, and prime viewing of the field below. While the Balloon museum is not free your Balloon Fiesta admission includes a $1 off coupon to the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum.

4. Enjoy Delicious Food

The Balloon Fiesta has plenty of food vendors with a variety of delicious food. From coffee and donuts to fried alligator with many other food choices, there is a huge variety of food vendors selling food. Make sure to enjoy an authentic green chile breakfast burrito.

5. Picture Opportunities

The Balloon Fiesta has plenty of places for great photo opportunities. From a real tramway car to several face-cut-out murals, you can take plenty of photos to remember the day. Make sure to get a selfie by the big Albuquerque sign.

6. Chainsaw Carvers

The AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition is a must-see event! Stop by the tent and watch the artists create works of art with wood and a powerful chainsaw. Guests and spectators will have the opportunity to take one of the beautiful carvings home with a live auction that is held each exhibition day.

7. Fireworks & Drone Laser Show

The evening events at the Balloon Fiesta include fireworks and a drone laser show. Even if the balloon glow is canceled, the fireworks and drone laser show will go on. It's pretty awesome to see fireworks followed by hundreds of drones in the sky that make pretty pictures.

8. Entertainment Stage

The Balloon Fiesta has a main stage with a variety of local entertainment. Stop by to watch dancers, singers, bands, and more

9. Go Shopping

Along with the many places to grab a bite to eat, there are plenty of booths to buy a balloon souvenir or many other items. From clothing to coffee mugs, posters, pins, and even collector items, vendors row is the place to grab gifts for the holidays. These shopping tents are fun to browse.

10. Play Games and Collect Free Stuff

A trip to the Abq Balloon Fiesta always includes checking out the tents that local businesses have set up. From booths that offer tourist information to booths that have fun games to play. This is the place to get some cool swag like sunglasses, toothbrushes, pens, and even snacks. My son loves playing the spinning games and he always wins coupons to local stores.

If the weather is perfect and the hot air balloons are able to go up in the morning mass ascension, you should still check out all these activities at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta park. These activities are available to check out before, during, and after the balloons lift up into the sky. If you attend the evening session of the Balloon Fiesta, I recommend arriving at the balloon park an hour or more before it gets dark. That way you can do the many fun activities before the balloon glow as the activities are not available after the balloon glow.

My son flew an Air Force jet simulator at the tent that the Air Force managed at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Is Celebrating 50 Years

Looking for a unique travel destination this year? Consider the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. It is a must-see event that happens in October.

Every year my family attends the best event ever in New Mexico. This event may just be the best event in the whole world. The event that I am talking about is an event with over 500 spectacular hot air balloons floating in the sky. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a once-in-a-lifetime, must-see event that needs to be included in your vacation plans this year.

While the Balloon Fiesta happens every year in New Mexico, this year's hot air balloon event is even more special this year. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Is Celebrating 50 Years and you need to make plans to travel to Albuquerque. You won't want to miss seeing over 500 hot air balloons being launched into the colorful skies of New Mexico.

The hot air balloon fiesta is more than just seeing hot air balloons floating in the air. This is a magical event that allows you to participate in the hot air balloon magic. Over the course of the nine-day event, you will have the opportunity to walk the hot air balloon launching field and get an up-close look at the hot air balloons. I am not talking, about having to stand behind a barricade while the balloons are preparing to go up in the sky. You are right next to the colorful hot air balloons, so close that you can talk to the balloon pilots and chase crew. You might even get a collectors card of the hot air balloon.

People from all over the world travel to New Mexico to attend the Balloon Fiesta

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is an event that has people from all over the world in attendance. Even the hot air balloons come from around the world. From rainbow-colored hot air balloons to balloons that are in special shapes, like the Creamland Cow and my favorite the bee balloons, you will see so many awesome hot air balloons in the sky.

As a local, October is the most beautiful time of year in New Mexico. I never get bored with seeing the sight of colorful balloons punctuating the skyline. My family attends the balloon fiesta every year. It is our favorite fall activity and this year we are even more excited about the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta as they are celebrating 50 years of launching hot air balloons into the sky.

The 50th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta countdown is underway! Mark your calendars now to attend the event, scheduled to occur October 1-9, 2022!

History of the Balloon Fiesta

2022 will mark the 50th time that the Balloon Fiesta has filled Albuquerque's crystal blue skies. The first gathering of 13 balloons happened in 1972 in a shopping mall parking lot. Now 50 years later, the event features about 600 balloons and 700 pilots. In 1972 there were about 10,000 guests that viewed the first Balloon Fiesta. Now there are hundreds of thousands of guests who visit Balloon Fiesta each year. Hundreds of thousands more fans watch the balloons from outlying areas and on TV.

Event Information

The Balloon Fiesta is the premier international ballooning event, powered by the typically perfect October climate and a phenomenon called the "Albuquerque Box," (a combination of weather patterns and geographic landscape, the box allows balloonists to control and even retrace their adventure) that is great for spectators and pilots as they can possibly take off and land from the same location.

The 360-acre Balloon Fiesta Park includes 100 acres of grass and booths that will be filled with balloons and concessions. During the 49th event, Balloon Fiesta launched more than 540 hot air and gas-filled balloons. The event also hosted pilots representing 7 countries and more than 70 food and merchandise vendors. It’s been said that the breakfast burrito, the perfect grab-and-go meal for our pilots, gained its prominence at Balloon Fiesta.

25 years of seeing hot air balloons in the sky

While I was not in attendance for the very first Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, I have seen the Balloon Fiesta hot air balloons for 25 years. From attending the Balloon Fiesta to seeing the hot air balloons float over my house, I have fond memories of the event. I remember the first time I walked the Balloon Fiesta Park field. It was a cold morning. With a hot cup of coffee in one hand and a burrito in the other, I was so excited to see all the balloons. My oldest 2 kids were only 3 and 7 years old.

Now 25 years later and three kids later, I am excited to see what the Balloon Fiesta has in store for their 50th celebration. This year my husband and my two teen boys will be attending the Balloon Fiesta with me.

The boys and I attended the Balloon Fiesta last year. Now that the boys are older, they are having fun helping me take pictures for my website. It is such a joy to see the hot air balloon through their eyes and through the photos that they take on their phones. I remember many years past, when the Balloon Fiesta sold rolls of film for your camera and Kodak was a sponsor. I also remember when the balloon launching field had no grass. So it was a muddy mess on days when it rained.

One year we biked to the Balloon Fiesta of Albuquerque

I also remember the year that we biked to the Balloon Fiesta Park. My middle son and I rode our bikes with the two younger boys in the bike trailer. It was a fun bike ride that was in the dark. Read about our bike trip to the Balloon Fiesta HERE and see how easy it is to get to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta by bike.

The Balloon Fiesta of New Mexico is an event that I look forward to every year. It is a family tradition to attend the Balloon Fiesta events, both day and night. In the morning, you get to see all the hot air balloons launch into the sky. Then at night, the balloon event has the famous balloon glow. If you have never seen a balloon glow, you will be amazed. The balloon glow is an event with the hot air balloons staying on the ground. The sky is dark and the balloons light up when the pilots fire their burners.

History of the balloon glow

The event now known as balloon glows were invented in Albuquerque in 1979 when local pilots inflated balloons on Christmas Eve night as a thank you to local residents. The sight of balloons lit from within at night like giant holiday ornaments is breathtaking and glow events are now held all over the world. Balloon Fiesta launched its Balloon Glow, the world's biggest, in 1987. Balloon Glow all burns, when all the balloons fire their burners and light up at the same time are perhaps the most spectacular single moment in all of Balloon Fiesta.

So much to see at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a nine-day event that is filled with so much more than hot air balloons in the sky. From walking the field to seeing all the hot air balloons to buying a breakfast burrito, there is plenty of fun. The balloon event offers so much more than hot air balloons in the sky. You can buy food and merchandise from the many concession stands. There are entertainment and learning events. You can also purchase items from a craft fair tent.

At the night events, you can see skydivers and fireworks along with the balloon glow. Make sure to allow for plenty of time to explore the city of Albuquerque too. A typical day at the Balloon Fiesta is several hours in the morning and several hours in the evening. So the afternoon is when you can check out the delicious food from the New Mexican restaurants and explore the city. For more information about the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta ~ Click HERE!

Check out these articles about the Balloon Fiesta

The Best Ways To Get To The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Will Leave You Speechless

Biking To Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Insider Tips

The Best Ways To Get To The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The best event to attend in New Mexico

Every year my family attends the best event ever in New Mexico. The event that I am talking about is an event with over 500 spectacular hot air balloons floating in the sky. These colorful balloons that are filled with hot air float magically over the sunny skies of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a must-see event that happens once a year for nine wonderful days. People from all over the world travel to New Mexico to attend the Balloon Fiesta, including the pilots and the owners of the hot air Balloons. Last year I had the privilege to meet a couple of hot air balloon pilots from the Netherlands. My boys enjoyed seeing their large motorcycle hot air balloon float in the Albuquerque sky.

I received passes to the Balloon Fiesta to facilitate this article.

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta brings is a huge event that has a weekly attendance of over one million attendees. So, with that many people enjoying all the beautiful hot air balloons, traffic can be a nightmare to get to the place where the event takes place. The Balloon Fiesta is a must-see event that is on most people’s bucket list of places to travel to and is well worth the time spent in the traffic to get to the parking lot. The time spent in traffic doesn’t have to be long or stressful if you choose some of the alternative ways to travel to the Balloon Fiesta. Whether you traveled far or live in town, there are many options for transportation to get to the Balloon Fiesta Park. Each mode of transportation has advantages and disadvantages so I will list the ways that I am aware of, so you can decide which option is best.

Traveling by Car
Most people think that the only way to get to the Balloon Fiesta is by a car and that is just one of many ways to get to the Balloon Fiesta Park. If you drive to the event, you will have to pay $15 cash to park your car. The parking attendants only take cash so make sure to bring $15 or more in cash to the event. Trust me, more cash is better so you can buy some delicious food on vendors row. Some of the vendors only take cash for their breakfast burritos, coffee, or funnel cakes

If you choose to travel by car to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, make sure to give yourself plenty of time as there may be lots of traffic. On the busiest days of the hot air balloon fiesta the parking lots can fill up fast and there tends to be a lot of traffic. That can mean you can be stuck in traffic for more than an hour. So, I recommend allowing yourself at least 1 ½ hours travel time so you don’t miss the Mass Ascension of all the hot air balloons in the sky. I prefer to get to the hot air balloon event earlier and then I use that time to buy myself a delicious breakfast burrito and check all the booths on vendor row. The busiest days of the balloon fiesta are the weekends, Thursday, and Friday. Check out a map of the balloon fiesta park that includes directions.

We love watching the hot air balloons inflate

Park and Ride
If you don’t want to deal with the traffic of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, taking the Park and Ride is a wonderful option. You simply drive to one of the many Park and Ride lots, park your car, and board a bus that takes you to the event. There is a cost to ride the bus but it does include admission to the event. Your ticket includes round trip transportation so when you are ready to go back to your car, you can board one of the many Park and Ride buses. One of the perks of the Park and Ride ticket is having a separate line to get into the balloon event so you will be able to avoid the long ticket line. You can buy the Park and Ride bus tickets online at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta website.

RideShare Car service
You can schedule a rideshare car like Uber or Lyft to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The event even has a drop off parking lot for these drivers that gets you close to the entrance. These cars do have to travel on the same roads that all the other cars travel on so there will still be traffic, but you won’t have the stress of as you can sit back and let your driver handle that. You also do not have to pay for parking.

This is one of many special shaped balloons at the fiesta

Bicycle
As a local resident of Albuquerque, I like to travel by bike to get to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta so I can avoid the $15 parking fee. This gives me some great exercise and the event even offers free parking for your bike in a secure bike lot. The secure bike lot at the balloon fiesta park is staffed by local people who love to bike and this lot is very close to the Balloon Fiesta entrance, so less walking for you. Albuquerque has many bike paths that lead to the Balloon Fiesta Park so you don’t have to ride your bike in the street. Click HERE to read an in-depth article that has plenty of must-read information about biking to the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. This article has information about the bike paths and what you need to bring, like a bike light, to safely ride to see all the beautiful hot air balloons.

Tour Bus
An option to consider when booking your travel arrangements to the International Balloon Fiesta is touring with a group. The tour group travel agent takes care of all the details for you like hotel, admission tickets, and transportation to the event so you don’t have to worry about that. Sometimes the tour groups even include a tour bus to even get to Albuquerque. If you are an individual looking to join a tour that includes visits to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta click HERE and scroll all the way to the bottom of the page for info.

To be able to float up in the sky in a hot air balloon is a dream

Rail Runner Train
On weekends the Rail Runner Train offers a package that includes an event admission ticket to the Balloon Fiesta. The Rail Runner is a local New Mexico train that travels from Albuquerque to Santa Fe and also to Belen. You can board the train in many places in New Mexico and take the train to the Jefferson stop. At this train stop, there will be a bus that takes you to the Balloon Fiesta Park.

The Balloon Glow is a must-see event at the Balloon Fiesta

Walking
You can even walk to the biggest hot air balloon show if you are one of the lucky ones who live near the Balloon Fiesta grounds. You can also walk to the Balloon Fiesta Park and avoid the traffic if you are staying at the official Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta RV campground or the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Park Glamping campground. These places are right near the event so you can walk to see the hot air balloons or take the Balloon Fiesta courtesy shuttle. The Glamping tents were a huge hit the first year in 2018 so the Balloon Fiesta park double the number of available tents in 2019. The closest hotels are about 1 mile away from the Balloon Fiesta Park so if you want some healthy exercise, booking a room at these hotels would be a good option. There are also Airbnbs that are near the Abq Balloon Fiesta park that is within walking distance.

So there are many options for transportation to consider to arrive at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta beyond renting or driving a car. So once you decided that you will be attending the most spectacular event in New Mexico, then consider how you will get to the event from the place you are staying. Your mode of transportation may help you with your travel decisions like the hotel that you will be staying at. You made a great decision to attend an up close to the hot air balloon event. If you need more information about the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta be sure to visit these other informative articles that I wrote about the hot air balloon fiesta. I have been attending the over 500 hot air balloon show for over 10 years so I have lots of insider information that will help you experience the hot air balloon show in an amazing way. The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is more than seeing hot air balloons float in the sky. It is an up-close to the hot air balloon event like no other in the world. Maybe that is why it is called the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta as it is the best.

My favorite hot air balloons are the Bees