Vegas Free-for-All - albuquerque balloon festival

albuquerque balloon festival

Campion

Sep 17, 2015
7:24am

My daughter's boyfriend where she is down in Denver runs balloons. They are travelling down to Albuquerque for the festival.

cancer chic

Sep 17, 2015
7:35am

Block User

Live in Albuquerque and go every couple years.
It is weather dependent. Dress in layers it's really cold in the morning as the balloons start going up around 7am. The best way to get down there is to catch a bus at the mall. Nothing like being on the field as the balloons inflate and the waves of balloons for mass ascension. There is also the ballon glow at night and a special shapes rodeo. If your thinking of coming for the festival you better try to get lodging. Some places are booked a year in advance. Side trip you can go up the tram and there's a restaurant up there. Also we have casinos And Santa Fe is about a 45 min drive

jatki

Sep 17, 2015
7:56am

Block User

Sounds like a bucket list thing just to go. Of course I've seen the sunning photos in the likes of Nat Geo, Conde' nast and I bet they'd be even more stunning in person. Definitely sounds like a fun time.

On an aside; I had a girlfriend whos dad wanted to go up in a ballon and a friend of his owned one so of course away they went. Aferwards he said it was very anticlimactic. Said you got up there and while cool, just got kinda boring. I don't know if he had just built it up so much or what but I think it would be a great thing to do personally. At least once.

chefantwon

Sep 17, 2015
10:27am

Block User

From what I recall, its one of the largest ones in the US. Balloon fiesta web page

2 things to catch are the race and the balloon glow.

We used to watch them when I was stationed at Kirkland AFB.

cancer chic

Sep 17, 2015
1:01pm

Block User

I know I much prefer the glow. So pretty. Lots of vendors and food

Boilerman

Sep 17, 2015
9:35pm

Block User

Dammit, I got screwed. Not even one sip of Champagne. It was still neat.

Quote

Originally posted by: CowboyKell

Quote
Originally posted by: Boilerman
There used to be a hot air balloon festival close to my home when I lived in Ohio. It was quite large and neat, but I'm guessing not as big a deal as the one in New Mexico. I was surprised one day when one guy put his balloon down in my back yard. They had some technical issue, and a chase car came and helped them out. They were then on their way. It was fun to chat with them and ask them about flying balloons.

Did you get your Champagne?

When I was a teenager a hot air balloon landed on our property. The occupants shared a bottle of Champagne with us. They said it was a tradition to toast the owner of the property they "trespassed" on.

Captain

Sep 17, 2015
10:46pm

Block User

Its a bucket list must...we have been up several times with friends and a few paid trips. We discussed buying one, but when my wife realized she would be in the chase car, the idea was nixed.
Albuquerque is the biggest in the US and it is really something. Last time we went, I got both of us on a crew and it was a blast.

jatki

Sep 18, 2015
12:29am

Block User

Quote

Originally posted by: captain bill
Its a bucket list must...we have been up several times with friends and a few paid trips. We discussed buying one, but when my wife realized she would be in the chase car, the idea was nixed.
Albuquerque is the biggest in the US and it is really something. Last time we went, I got both of us on a crew and it was a blast.

Sorry, had to chuckle at the notion of the wife being the the chase car, pretty funny. Isn't there another person or get a "team" together for chasing, flying etc. on a rotational basis?

BobOrme

Sep 18, 2015
5:29am

Block User

I've been in a hot air balloon three times. All three times, I jumped out while in the air! Bungee jumping is a rush!

chefantwon

Sep 18, 2015
10:07am

Block User

Quote

Originally posted by: jatki99

Quote
Originally posted by: captain bill
Its a bucket list must...we have been up several times with friends and a few paid trips. We discussed buying one, but when my wife realized she would be in the chase car, the idea was nixed.
Albuquerque is the biggest in the US and it is really something. Last time we went, I got both of us on a crew and it was a blast.

Sorry, had to chuckle at the notion of the wife being the the chase car, pretty funny. Isn't there another person or get a "team" together for chasing, flying etc. on a rotational basis?

Some folks are rather good at the chasing and having a 4x4 truck helps. (not everybody on the team has one). Some teams have dedicated people on the chase team.

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