Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Really cool experience!! Full days of activities, I recommend getting there really early as they take off when the sun is just barely out! Great event for people of all ages, lots of fair like booths with food drinks and other things.

October 5, 2024 - Magical 9 day event . . . Add it to your “ Bucket List” 😃👍🏼❤️ WOW! We bussed in from Maryland , to spend 2 sessions over 2 days ! ( good tip, in case of high wind or rain. . . Balloons won’t lift off) Morning session is before Sunrise to noon! Evening session is 3pm to 9 pm . . . Buy tickets for a session ! Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta started 1972, over 50 years growing to 600 balloons of all sizes, shapes, and colors. Over 30 balloons sponsored by different countries! It’s pricey, worth it! You can bring in food & beverages to save money. ( No alcohol) The Balloon Park is 365 acres . . . It’s big! People buy their tickets, enter the park, and walk around on the field to meet the balloon crews as they set up their hot air balloons! Near the Main Stage folks watch the color flag flying. . . If it’s Red, no lift off! If the flag is YELLOW, it’s caution ⚠️ must wait for weather to stabilize ( winds to calm, under 10 m.p.h.) The GREEN flag means LIFT off ! As you walk around you’ll notice merchandise tents , where you can shop! You’ll also notice corporate sponsors that restrict entrance to special visitors/members of that organization. You might notice the Gondola Club, or Chaser’s Club . . . Big tents that cater food, beverages, and merchandise to clients who buy advance tickets. Our bus group paid $130 a ticket to the Gondola Club. They catered a nice breakfast with morning cocktails on our 1st day/ morning session to see lift off on October 5th! Our bus group also purchased tickets for an evening session at the Gondola Club. They catered a wonderful BBQ menu with salad and pulled pork . Then we watched at dusk, an evening glow burn 🔥 of 20 balloons! Followed by fireworks & Drone Laser show! Amazing the synchronized patterns of the drones in colorful formations! 😃👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 Over a million visitors attend these 9 days of events. Well organized venue , with 5 locations to purchase shuttle bus transportation to the Fiesta Balloon Park. Get use to portable Potties! My highlight was talking to some of the balloon crews as they readied their equipment. They offered small color cards of their balloon, like baseball trading cards! In the past pins were given & collected. I saw several older folks with their jackets stacked & packed with different balloon pins! A great tradition, that I hope continues through the years😃👍🏼

A very beautiful event, I would go again every year, but my family and I paid for the Park and Ride and left from the Cottonwood Mall. To get there it was excellent, they dropped us off at the entrance, but on the way back we walked a lot. We paid the P&R to avoid lines and the return buses are very far away. If I had taken the car I would have walked the same distance from the parking lot to the entrance or exit. Please improve that for next year.

It's a great fest but there needs to be much better signage on the interstate on where to exit. It took 3.5 hours to drive from downtown on the first Saturday of the event (most of that being the last 3 miles). Would be nice to see the drone show get bigger in place of the fireworks. Be sure to hit the night glow which is stellar as long as the weather allows inflation of balloons. That being said it's a good idea to plan on attending at least two morning sessions and two evenings just in case weather interferes with a session (hey it happens and we appreciate putting safety first) This is a bucket list kind of event, well worth the early morning wake up call (plan to get there by 430 am to give you time to get down to the field in the morning).

Too introverted for the festival. Be prepared to fight crowds, spend money, and wait on the wind. Massive crowd alert! I’m glad we went, checked it off my list. If I could do things differently I’d pack lawn chairs and a picnic and find a hill to enjoy the balloons miles away from thousands and thousands of people. If you go, remember cash (parking is cash only and vendors charge higher than average credit card fees). Expect to pay $10-15 for drinks (non-alcohol) and $15-25 for food - per person. If I attend the festival again, I’ll splurge on VIP. Note: the balloons are required to wait for the green flag before inflating so timing depends on wind. You might or might not see a mass ascension or night glow or you might wait an hour later than scheduled. Was it worth it - yes! ✅

Huge field full of beautiful hot air balloons with different size and shapes!! Where you can walk to watch them be inflated and then watch float away. It’s Always nice and always crowded!! The event had music, food vendors, and souvenirs!! Don’t missed if you are in the area at the time of the event!! Note: 1/Traffic is really bad If you have the option, buy a Park and Ride ticket. 2/Be prepared!! Everything is done very early morning but it’s worth it! 3/Fun experience for kids too but bring plenty of drinks and snack!!

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta was a truly magical experience! The weather was perfect, providing clear skies and pleasant temperatures, making it an ideal day for balloon watching. Parking was a breeze, with no issues at all, which was a relief given the large number of attendees. One of the highlights was watching the new Smokey Bear balloon as it prepared for takeoff. It was fascinating to see the intricate process involved in getting these magnificent balloons ready for flight. The special shape balloons were breathtaking, each one unique and adding to the vibrant tapestry of the event. Despite the crowds, the event was impressively well-organized. The flow of people was managed efficiently, ensuring everyone could enjoy the spectacle without feeling overwhelmed. The Balloon Fiesta offered a beautiful blend of excitement and tranquility, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Overall, it was an extraordinary event that I highly recommend to anyone looking to experience the wonder of hot air balloons in a beautifully organized setting.

Didn’t know what to expect but was absolutely blown away by the experience. Cannot recommend enough! The entire experience was so meaningful and memorable it’s hard to put into perspective. It’s something you need to see in person to understand the magnitude of the experience. Absolutely every person we encountered was so nice and friendly. One would think with the amount of people amassed there may be some kind of tension or issues but we experienced zero situations. The balloonists were more than happy to answer questions and share their knowledge. Definitely a place to bring children. Main Street is a cool place with lots of shops and food options. The loaded potato nachos are to die for! Several beer gardens great for people watching or a nice place to relax and listen to live music and have a drink or three 😉 Dawn Patrol was cathartic! Up early but worth it. Get parking and bus tickets, such a seamless process on lockdown which is so appreciated. The Character Rodeo at sunset…WOW!!! Just WOW!!! Cannot recommend this entire experience enough!!!

OMG. Sooooo Ah-mazing! This is a Bucket list MUST. *Wear comfortable shoes *Bring/Take a chair, blanket(s) *Buy tickets on the Balloon Fiesta website *You will get up very early *There are shows / venues Family of 4 adults had a blast at the Special shapes, glow-deo, drone and fireworks show(s). There are many vendors from art, jewelry, clothing, and food sectors so bring lots of cash (concealed, of course) or have a nice credit card limit. Parking is seamless going in. Leaving is an entirely different issue. Best bet, Park and Ride from various city-wide locations or park your vehicle in area where you can get out in under 1 1/2 hour (not that this has happened to me) :) In my opinion, the best day was the Special Shapes. However, all days at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta are magical. Have a great time!

Mind blowing experience! From the research process to the planning, to the execution of getting there and anticipated hiccups, what a great experience! Don't want to share more stories, just go and experience it yourself. This is worth taking your favorite people to enjoy their busk festivities. Food was definitely overpriced. Two cups of medium sized brewed coffee and two donuts $25. You are allowed to bring food and drinks, plan accordingly. Some folks brought camping chairs, some brought large blankets. Bring a warm coat if you're watching the 5:45 AM dawn patrol. But bring a large rimmed hat or even an umbrella if you plan to spend the afternoon checking out the booths. It was 83 degrees and the sun was hot. Definitely wear comfortable shoes. Enjoy!

There are a few things you should put on your bucket list, and i think this one is an easy one to check off your list. the event was extremely cool and unique and amazing. We woke up at around 3am and left to the mall from our airbnb. I highly highly highly getting the bus shutter tickets, since driving there will result in hour long traffic. If you get the shuttle transport, it'll save you so much time. We actually waited until 430am before we were able to get into the "fair grounds" and we spent the next two hours or so roaming around and checking out all the shops and places to eat. (keep in mind, the food/drinks are expensive and it might be better to bring in drinks or snacks if you can) I think the reason, we came so early was to witness the drone show which was sponsored from the local casino. The drone show was actually really cool. It showed a balloon traveling to places all over the world. As for the ascension of all the hot air ballons, it didn't really start until 7am or so. but the cool thing is that you can walk all over the grounds to check out different ballons. we went on the last day of the event, and we typically saw the normal round shaped ballons. I heard from others, that friday was the day to go, if you wanted to see the special shapes. But nonetheless, witnessing so many ballons in the sky was such a magical event as the sun was coming up from the mountain ridges. Definitely glad i was able to check this event out! TLDR: 1. get shuttle passes 2. Get a good night sleep, and wake up early 3. Bring drinks or food if you can. 4. Wear something warm, since it can get very cold in the morning 5. Wander around and take videos and photos

Once in a lifetime experience People have used words like "surreal, miraculous, and magical." Beauty is found in much creativity and coordination. Seeing all the balloons go up at the same time all from different people and places gives me a glimmer of hope that wonder and friendship are connected, that we are much stronger together than apart. Of course, it is all to make money too. And I hope that it does. The city welcomes people from all around the world and its hospitality is just as magical as the colors lit up in the sky in the early dawn and the late dusk.

Bucket list event - check! We decided to come down to Albuquerque six months ago and decided week of what day to attend the festival. I highly recommend the convenience of the park and ride option. For the 4 am departure, we arrived at 3 am. Did we need to get there that early, probably not. 330 am totally fine. The am session was amazing. Pricing to the fest is reasonable- just ensure you are on their official site and not a 3rd party site. Prices for food and drinks surprisingly not overpriced. My tips 1. Morning session is cold outside. Coat or sweatshirt recommended. (I ended up buying a coffee and a hot chocolate to keep warm) 2. Bring a blanket for warmth and to sit on in the field. (You can bring a chair in, but then you gotta carry ir around). 3. Book lodging way in advance as this is the largest event in town. Such a fun event!

Omg went to the 52nd annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta opening ceremony for the first time. Exhausted. We booked our hotel in January 2024 for this because it's such a popular event. We had to sit in a long line on Balloon Museum Drive just to be told by staff once we almost got to Jefferson to u-turn and make 3 lefts and then you'll be at some parking lot - except that information was wrong. We were able to park in the Road Runner lot for $20 at the corner of Alameda & Balloon Museum Drive. How does staff not know this and why weren't there signs with this information so people weren't having to sit in a huge line just to be told to turn around? This festival happens at the same place every year. My husband and I got there at 3 AM to get parking, gates opened at 4:30 AM. The 10 minute drone show finished at 6 AM. First balloon didn't lift off until 7:42 AM due to high winds delaying launch. What happened in between? Waiting. Lots of waiting with little information about what was going on. Oh also, it's pitch black outside where people are trying to find seats on the lawn while bringing toddlers in wagons, strollers and the mountain of kit parents travel with. For the love of God, please stop bringing small children to events like this. Kids were MELTING down because there is like a bazillion people, it's during the time they'd most likely be asleep and it just lasts too long. The opening ceremony was 5:30 AM - noon, with gates opening at 4:30 AM. It's inappropriate to expect any child to not lose it under those conditions. So many kids were crying, screaming, running around demanding snacks and toys, and asking when the balloons would start, from 4 AM while we stood in line to get in until nearly 8 AM when the balloons finally began take off. Okay, you're an adult that wants to go to the Balloon Fiesta? Get family to babysit overnight or wait until your kids are older. It's just gross seeing parents have no concern for their children's limitations. This is definitely a one-and-done type event for me. It's just way too early and too many people to do this on the regular. If you love crowds, crowds, crowds and overpriced fair food while seeing hot air balloons, you'll enjoy this. Visited October 2024

My 1 star in NO way reflects the ACTUAL fiesta (once you FINALLY get there) the event itself is easily 5 ! First the fantastic: Absolutely magical being SO close to the balloons as they were launching. We attended both morning and evening sessions on Thursday/Friday and Saturday to see mass ascension. Getting up that early was totally worth it!! The drone show was amazing and the overall experience for $15 general admission is a steal. Photos do not capture the magic of going to the balloon festival, add this trip to your bucket list! All the volunteers and workers are the sweetest. Very welcoming. Now for the bad. 1) The traffic. I am glad we got multiple session tickets as even with park/ride it took us 3 hrs to go 5miles so the first day we totally missed sunrise (got there at 7 altho we got to Coronado park/ride at 5:30).. Your ticket time does not matter (it should!). The buses DO NOT have dedicated lanes, That was not completely true advertising. They do have a dedicated entrance. Still took us almost an hour to get there (once in the bus). Not to mention the other 1.5hrs WAITING TO GET IN THE BUS! For even more details find Matt's review below.. he gets ALL our frustration in a beautifully detailed and appropriately angry post. Now...after this experience trying to get to the park add $45-115 to your general admission ticket cost and you'll arrive at 2) chasers/gondola club: food is mediocre at best (better at the gondola but not worth the $). Cold food. Morning gondola says open bar but not until 7am. IMHO you're better off buying personal heating packs and saving all that $ and getting the food you actually want. So many awesome vendors. Again- find a way to keep food hot in the cold morning. Otherwise, nothing would be hot for more than a few mins. We had gondola tickets for Saturday morning. HORRIBLE directions and when you actually manage to get there... the sign is so tiny that we almost missed the turn! food... little quantity...lukewarm when you get it so it's cold by the time you sit in the cold outdoors w not enough heaters. Chairs felt like you were going to break them (same with chasers) For the price, we should've been in a special lane/had more heating in am/cool in pm n more comfy chairs. Just as the buses gondola members should've had a special lane. And better signs all around as everyone seems lost.

Bucket list trip! This road trip was so fun with my girls! We got a tip from our hotel about being on the grounds by 3:30am, super early, but so so worth it. There's not a bad place to watch the festivities. The events schedule is the whole weekend. We saw craftsmanship, drone shows, shopping, an amazing fireworks show and of course waves and waves of hot air balloons. If you are extra brave, you can take a trip up in a balloon to unlock a core memory.

Where else can you watch 545 hot air balloons launch in one spot every year for the past 51 years? Booked hotel reservations for one week at inflated rates six months in advance. Paid airfare to Albuquerque, 1200 miles flying distance, higher than the airfare to Honolulu, 2400 miles flying distance. Paid rental car through Costco rentals. Got up at 5am, ate breakfast at 530am at our hotel, left the hotel at 6am. The 8 mile drive took 40 minutes, the last 2 miles 30 minutes, with traffic gridlock off the freeway 25 heading north. And this was with traffic cones and traffic control supervised by police. Paid $20, cash only, to park. Walked 20 minutes from the parking lot near Presbyterian Administration to the entrance to the festival. Paid $33 for two $15 tickets, no senior discount, but children under 12 free, with a 10% surcharge for credit card. Tickets have no in and out privileges and are good for only the current session once scanned. Wore long pants, heavy shirt, heavy sweater, and Hoka running shoes for the 2.5 miles of walking. It's cold at 6am with temperatures in the 40s. You can bring in chairs, wagons, foods, strollers, but no alcohol and no dogs! Huge lines for the dozen of porta potties. The more reason I prefer the separate mens and womens lines. 7am starting time for the special shapes balloon rodeo. Wall to wall people, including many with wagons for their kids. Watched images of Yoda, Tasmanian Devil, London Bobby, Police Dog, Felix the Cat, . Some like Darth Vader and Mirabelle the Cow never made if off the ground. 830am the special shapes balloons start coming back to the ground, and deflated. Took a picture of the wife just as one special shapes balloon deflated. Wife took a picture of me, with the balloon tip of the tongue right on my forehead. Trekked back to the car by 10am. Empty parking lot. Car next to us had two adults sleeping, mouths open, and all windows open. They too got up at 5am, and knew traffic was bad going back to the freeway. Came back Saturday. Woke up at 4am, left the hotel at 5am. Took 2 hours to cover 8 miles. Left freeway 25 three exits before, and took the Pan American bypass through two exits. Arrived at the parking lot at 7am, 20 minute walk to get to the balloon fiesta field, just in time to see the mass ascension. One hour later winds pick up and the rest of the balloons including Darth Vader are left to deflate before getting off the ground. At least I didn't come back Sunday, as the winds were so strong that they couldn't even launch the balloons, much to the disappointment of all those who got up at 4am, fought hours of congested traffic, and paid good money to attend. No refunds.

I had a truly amazing time here at the Balloon Fiesta two weeks ago. It was their 51st running and when I tell you it was big, it was huge! Over 500 balloons and acres of food, fun, and tents! I went for the Night event, one where the balloons do not fly but blow up and shine their torch. It started at sunset but you need to get there at least an hour or two early. I went around 3:30 and got in the line for parking. On site parking is $20 (cash!) and about a ten minute walk. I found it fine. The entrance was crowded and could have used some crowd control, but soon enough I was in! There are two huge souvenir tents for official merchandise, and countless other booths selling everything! Lots of food too, many stands (and lines) selling meats, fair food, drinks, and more! I was so busy running around, I didn't eat anything. There wasn't much particularly balloon themed, mostly generic carnival food. The evening came and the balloons inflated. What fun! You can go right up and watch the big fire jets. You can talk about balloons with the owners, and collect trading cards! Then go see the next balloon, and repeat for hours! They have periodic "all-burns" at night where everyone lights up. Great photo ops! Make sure you bring enough camera charge! They have a aerial show at night, and fireworks to cap it off. I left and walked back before the fireworks. Then watching them from my car, was able to leave the parking lot well before the crowds came back. What an amazing time, and I can't wait for next year!

A must see, bucket list experience! Thanks to my friends who live in NM, I was fortunate to experience the 51st International Hot Air Balloon Festival twice during my visit in early October. We woke up at 3a on both days for the short drive to the fiesta grounds, although with all the other cars on the road it was more like a couple of hours waiting in traffic and waiting to park. Still, the excitement in the air was palpable, and worth the lack of sleep to experience "dawn patrol" when the first handful of hot air balloons go up in the dark morning skies. It's also good to go early so you can check out the fiesta merch tent, grab a cup of coffee and a donut before the long lines, and hit the porta potties. After the first time in one, decided to get in the longer line for the flush portables! As the skies lightened, more balloons floated up into the skies creating a colorful skyscape. Cheers accompanied lift off as the crowds shouted their appreciation. The fiesta grounds are huge, so we easily walked 10,000 steps just going from one end to the other but stayed on the grassy lawn rather than by the vendor booths which sold fiesta food (burritos, churros, funnel cakes, fries, etc) and more merchandise. It was all very chaotic, but the mood was generally happy! On the eclipse day, we had on our special glasses to watch the event which was almost surreal. The temps dropped and the skies took on an almost washed out color. It wasn't completely dark because the moon had a ring of fire from the sun peeking behind it. Next year's event is scheduled Oct. 5-13 and is themed "Embrace the Sky" ... highly recommend!

Let me start by saying, I'm from Albuquerque so......... yeah, I'm a bit biased. But, I've been away since 1987 (wow, I'm dating myself) when I joined the military and moved away. So....... this was the first time I had actually been back to the actual Balloon Fiesta in YEARS. Growing up we could walk outside and they'd just be flying nearby or over the house. I didn't get none of that during this visit so I'm glad Mom & I went to Balloon Fiesta Park. We did the Park & Ride. Nobody wants to get up at 0300 hours, but I think I'd dread waiting in that line of cars to get into the park even worst. And that idea was CLUTCH! As soon as we parked at Cottonwood Mall the buses began to load and we were off. They snuck us in a back way and we were trolling the grounds in no time. Mom found a scooter rental place so we did that then off to check out the tents for some memorabilia & coffee. Yes, but first....... COFFEE. I've got to say, this Balloon Fiesta keeps growing & growing. It's a well-oiled machine! There are plenty of bathrooms and I never had to wait that long. They are also fairly clean, with an additional 'trailer' bathroom for families and ADA. The drone show started first and it's amazing to me how they do that. Shortly after that was the 'Dawn Patrol'. Those are the few (8) balloons that go up to make sure it's okay for the rest to fly (or ascend). And ASCEND they did!!! There were approximately 500 balloons in attendance this year from all over the world! Mom & I were like big kids pointing out all the animal shaped balloons and just amazed at them all. There were so many and they kept going and going and going. We both wondered how they could fit them all on the field! What I love about the fiesta is the fact that you can get CLOSE! Some of the balloonists with even engage the crowd to assist them with preparing their balloon for flight. Some were HUGE! The Creamland Cow was ginormous and was right in front of where we stood. I'm going to have to bring some friends back. Mind you, it's an open field. No matter what the forecast is, it's always coldest before the dawn. So, if you come in the morning bring plenty of jackets and maybe even a blanket. You'll have a great time. As another reviewer mentioned, the day is broken up into the day and night events. You can't stay at the park all day. After morning ascension the park closes at about 11AM. Plenty of time to see the balloons, get some souvenirs, eat something, then ride out. You've got to come at least once. There's several activities that span the two weeks so, no two days will be the same and you may even see different balloons. Check it out.

Absolutely loved the Balloon Festival. We stayed in the RV dry camping area which was fun meeting other people there for same reason. We arrived a few days before the festival started to do a balloon ride and acquire a good spot. The festival offered shuttles over to the main grounds starting before sunrise. The first event was a burner display while still dark which lit up the dark. A few balloons went up and put on a light up balloon show. Loved it. Once the sun was rising all the balloons in the infield were being filling up and starting popping up all around us. So cool! There were balloon of all different colors, designs and shapes. There were characters as well. The morning Mass Ascension was amazing. Being on the infield with the balloons rising up all around you was such a visual treat.

What an absolute disaster. The Albuquerque Balloon Festival's park-and-ride was the most incompetent, disorganized mess I've ever experienced. I arrived at 4 AM and stood in a gigantic line at the Coronado mall for 90 minutes just to get on the bus. Then it took over an hour for the bus to arrive at the festival--thanks to a clueless driver who had no idea where they were going. The traffic was a nightmare, just as bad as if we had driven ourselves, with incompetent traffic directors who didn't have a clue. The boarding process was a joke. One line, one person scanning passes, and a single metal detector? Really? We had to go through that again when we arrived at the festival. This is utterly ridiculous! And let's talk about the fact that all these tickets were sold in advance! You knew exactly how many people would show up, yet you let us wait in line until almost missing the sunrise balloon ascent. I barely made it just in time, and that was only due to a wind delay. Here's what needs to happen immediately: 1. **Dedicated bus lanes** enforced by police. It's absurd that this wasn't already in place. 2. **Load multiple buses at once.** One bus at a time is beyond stupid when you know how many people are coming. 3. **Train your bus drivers.** They need GPS and clear directions to get passengers where they need to go. 4. **Staff security properly.** One metal detector and two guys scanning tickets is a complete joke. Whoever was in charge of this debacle should be fired. This is not just poor management; it's an embarrassment for the city. The mayor and chief of police need to step up and address this absolute chaos. For an event that brings in hundreds of millions of dollars, the incompetence surrounding logistics and traffic flow is absolutely unacceptable. Get it together!

I was back again this year!!! Still love Balloon Fiesta!!! I do have some feedback. The Cottonwood Park and Ride walking path is super difficult to navigate - there should be clear directional signage. I have been lost more than once. Also, there are not enough portable toilets - it's just gross. I won't go into details but ..... if I didn't have to go I wouldn't. (There was toilet paper which I found impressive). Collecting the pins is super fun to me, but there were very few places this year giving them out. On opening morning I arrived at the Visit Albuquerque Photo Booth (which I visit every year) and I asked for a pin. They gave me one but one of their representatives commented under her breathe about how demanding it was of me to request / ask. That's so rude. I wasn't demanding or unkind. I was merely enjoying my time and hoping to collect their latest pin. Food vendors need clear signage if they only accept cash; it's frustrating to wait 30 minutes, get to the front, and discover they don't accept cards. One more criticism, we stayed to watch the fireworks on Saturday night, but around 8:45pm we decided we should head home. The fireworks had not displayed because of the hydrogen balloon launch. It's cool to watch history and the hydrogen race, but the timeline seemed a little off. I did not see the fireworks. I will continue to visit Balloon Fiesta! The balloons, pilots, and teams were top notch as usual!!!!

This a great event to attend fun views. It is a pricey activity with entrance fee is $15.00 with parking in dirt and weeds costs $20.00. There are per event so if you do a morning event and evening g double that. Food and drinks are three times what you find for the same food offsite.

I had to update my Review after we finally find the right way to the entrance. After all the circling around. In fairness to what we experienced from other police officer, we encountered other LEO WITH much help to us. We also experienced a better accomodation from other staffing who were helpful and accomodating. We can't really generalized people. Other were helpful other were not. Grateful to those people who made our Experienced at New Mexico amazing. It was an epic and unforgetable Moments watching all Ballons flew up the skies and gave an amazing view. Thank you New Mexico.

Fun event! I had it on my radar for a few years and was finally able to make it while in town for the eclipse. I appreciated they had shuttles to and from a few different parking lots to cut down on traffic and was pretty affordable. Ticket prices were also not bad. Lots of activities for all age ranges and was definitely family friendly. It was pretty hot with very little shade, so sunscreen and plenty of water is a must. For those who aren't a fan of crowds, don't go on a weekend. It can be very overwhelming. Like most events like this, the food was wildly overpriced, so if you're on a budget, I suggest bringing your own snacks. Overall, a good event to attend!

I had only heard about this event earlier this year and after doing some research, got some flights, a hotel room, rental car, and GA tickets for the event. It was pretty amazing! We went on the Saturday of the final weeked and opted for the morning ascension to coincide with the solar eclipse "Ring of Fire." We ended up getting up at 330am in order to catch an Uber to take us to the Fiesta (our Turo canceled last minute while we arrived). After a couple of attempts to catch a ride, we finally got a driver. For the normal 20-30 minute ride, it took us 1.5 hours in traffic before we got to the park. Luckily, the rideshare area drops you off at the front. We scrambled out of our car and ended up getting there as soon as they began the mass ascension and it didn't disappoint at all! The balloons were so amazing to see and it was basically a sea of people. The check in process was pretty quick--tickets cost $15 each with a $1.50 fee per ticket. And they were sent via email so that they could scan us in via QR code. We probably wandered around for a couple of hours until we found a spot to sit at in a cantina area. They also distributed eclipse viewing glasses at the entrance so that we could enjoy the sight. There were plenty or vendors for food and drink, lots of restrooms (luxury and standard port a potties), and quite a bit to see. It was somewhat cold, so we ended up buying gloves from a vendor. They sold branded and official merchandise, but it was a little too pricey for us. All in all, I'm down to return but would probably opt for the park and ride, Chasers Club or Gondola Club option just to be able to experience this from a different view and perspective. After the eclipse, basically everything shut down in order to prep for afternoon/evening festivities. I'm glad that I went to this session since this is weather dependent and can be canceled if winds end up being too strong. Til next time. Can't wait to see what's in store.

My husband and I had the most amazing time being at the Balloon Fiesta. I had always wanted to go and see it. So happy that we finally made it there to see it in person! It always looked so cool online. It was even better in person. We felt like we were in a movie. We went 3 different times over the week to have 3 different experiences. So glad that we did! The first day, we went to the night glow. There weren't that many people so you could get close to the balloons and see them light up. Then we went early the next morning for the tail end of the dawn patrol. It was great seeing the balloons inflate, light up and ascend. The mass ascension was magical. It's one thing to see it on tv and a whole other in person. Loved seeing all the colors and types of balloons. Everyone was so happy. It was also fun shopping at all the vendors, especially checking out all the pins. I got two cute ones to take home. Pin trading is a fun event that people of all ages get into. There are also tons of festival food vendors with local specialities and typical fair food. Toadland is a nice shop with all items made in New Mexico. On Friday morning, we went for special shapes day and I am so glad that we did. It was the best event because there were many more balloons and we loved seeing all the special shapes. They made everyone so happy. There were tons of familiar faces in the sky like Darth Vader, Yoda, Sylvester the Cat and Tweety, the Tasmanian Devil, Tom and Jerry, Smokey the Bear, etc. The regular colorful balloons were still there too. There was also a 10 story cow for Creamland that was so cool to see. The globitos or small hot air balloons were a nice surprise. They went up after the main event and were remote controlled. It was like a second event after the main event. They even had live indigenous performances on the main stage that were excellent. We also enjoyed going to see the live carvings. They were so talented and so well done. This is a must see event when in Albuquerque during fiesta week.

Wow. Totally didn't enjoy that. Firstly, if you wanna see balloons lift off, you have to arrive at 5am. Wasn't gonna do that. And the day is divided into two sections so I opted for the afternoon. Why you can't just have one all day pass? No idea. I bought the bus option thinking I could avoid traffic and it was only $2 more. And this did work: was able to park at a mall and get a ride over. The problem then was that there weren't any balloons. I had pretty much seen all the overpriced shops in an hour and I wasn't going to start drinking overpriced beer in the burning sun. Then the real problem arose: the bus service refused to return me to my car, said I had to wait at least two more hours (some people said 4 more hours). So there I was stranded while they were driving empty buses back. I was able to ask several people 'how do I escape?' And eventually found a spot for an uber. With traffic and confusion, it took almost 30 mins for them to arrive. (eventually I had to walk about 1km to find them) Overall, would not do it again. Frankly, I want my money back. That said, they do have good food, music, toilets, etc. Busy, but not too crowded. Friendly staff. Just drive yourself! And check the event timing.

This festival is awesome in every way! Watching the balloons, hundreds of them!, inflate and ascend at sunrise is an experience of a lifetime! There is also an early morning drone show and at night a drone and fireworks show along with the huge balloons glowing out in the field. Great for the whole family and wonderful for anyone who is into photography. It is a weather dependent event -if raining or too windy the balloons will not be launched for safety reasons .Also be prepared for lots of walking.

This can be nothing less than 5 stars for the amazing sight of 600-700 hot air balloons all going up into the air during mass ascension. The vibrant colors, unique shapes, and visual overload is an experience like no other and should be on your bucket list. The drone show, lighted skydivers, fireworks and the dawn patrol as well as glow event at night where many balloons light up and flicker at the same time are all very nice as well. My tip would be to bring your own food. Lines are long and the food is mid at best. We did the park and ride which worked out pretty well. We took the 4 am shuttle in the morning and the 3 pm in the afternoon, but if I was to do it again, I would push those back one hour as we ended up waiting around once we got to the park. I would also bring at least a blanket to sit on or if more ambitious, some chairs. Layers of clothings is a must and would consider mittens and a beanie next time. Realize they can cancel events because of the weather so I would try to hit the Saturday morning mass ascension so that in case Saturday gets cancelled, you still have a chance at the Sunday one. If you put all you eggs in one basket for the Sunday one and it gets cancelled you walk away with nothing. This sucks tho as you likely fly in Friday and will go to bed late and still wake up super early Saturday - our flight was delayed and we have kids so we decided to risk it all on Sunday - luckily everything ended up working out. There is an option to go up in a balloon but you have to be the first 10-15 people in line and it costs $450/person.

Things to know about the Albuquerque International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta: 1) $$$$ This is an annual event that brings in tens of thousands from out of town, so expect to pay more for everything from flights, hotels, parking, food and drink and souvenirs. It comes with the territory. 2) Tens of thousands... Be prepared for crowds, traffic and more. There will be crowds both on and off the field of balloons, including for porta-potties. 3) If you're one of the early risers, use your smartphone built-in flashlights or bring one separately. It is dark on the field. 4) Only you can decide whether the Gondola Club or other services are worth it. 5) See #1. MAKE RESERVATIONS WELL IN ADVANCE! Flights, hotels and car rentals will be expensive for this annual event... or unavailable if you delay. Like it or not, it is basic economics... supply and demand. 6) Bring a fully-charged smartphone. There is a charging station adjacent to the Sid Cutter Pilots Pavilion in case of need, however it may be crowded. Remember, a spare battery pack is your friend for events like this. 7) Attitude! Be sure to bring an attitude of adaptability and flexibility. Take deeps breaths in an out. 8) Altitude! Folks, the Albuquerque altitude varies from 4,700 to 5,300 feet. If you do a 14 hour road-trip starting at sea level, arrive at 1:45 a.m., get no sleep and arrive to the parking area at 4:30 a.m.... You'll be sorry. Very, very sorry. The balloon launch field is 86-acres. This means you will walk a lot, perhaps more than you are used to. This is why it is important to arrive a day or two before attending a session in order to give you body time to acclimate. 9) Be on the lookout for others on the field. People will be taking photos and gawking while on the field. You will not want to be walking into balloon crew or other people! In my opinion, the balloon fiesta is a once, twice or more in a lifetime event.

Absolutely beautiful and amazing! I recommend mornings over evenings because the weather conditions for the balloons usually better. We had evening general admission tickets and enjoyed the booths and vendors but it was too windy and the balloon glow was delayed. The next morning we had Gondola Club tickets, which I highly recommend, and it was amazing!! I highly recommend making the trip!!

WARNING- GOOGLE DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE OFFICIAL SITE!! I live in Albuquerque and got ripped off because Google sent me to a site called Tickets.com. It had pictures that looked like the Balloon Fiesta page. Tickets were $24 vice $15 and then they charged you a $15.60 service charge and a $6.95 e-mail charge without you seeing the screen for the charges. I hit submit and was charged $70.55 for $30 worth of tickets. I tried cancelling the order but wasn't allowed to because they are a "trusted secondary ticket vendor". Don't get ripped off like me!

I have always wanted to go to the Balloon Fiesta and it has been on my bucket list for years. I finally got to go this year and it was phenomenal! I thought we would just be spectators on the side watching the balloons from a distance. I had no idea you can get up close and even touch them. It was so beautiful. What an event to see. I was in sensory overload. The vendors are awesome, except a little pricy. Everything was $12 from a breakfast burrito to a beer to a magnet. All $12. The bar, if you want to call it that, closes at 10am sharp so if you want a drink, grab it quick. They have festival memorabilia to purchase along with some other local vendors. The burritos we got were all amazing. Great green chile. You have to get there early to get a good parking spot and parking cost $20, cash only. Close to the festival though, which was nice. I highly recommend this event to anyone. It was so amazing to see.

2022 fiesta is almost to a close. Had a lot of rain so some times things got canceled. Back again to see if everything goes well. This is such an awesome time. Morning launch then an evening glow

This is the second day of the international balloon fiesta for 2023. It runs until next Sunday October 15. If you in town do make an effort to experience this magical even unfold in front of you. Getting up early with be worth the sacrifice. People usually get in for the morning launch around 0400-0500. Traffic starts getting heavy the later you start arriving to the balloon fiesta. Parking pass are 20 dollars. Entrance is $15 dollars and children under 12 enter free. One session includes all morning or all evening sessions. There is also a park and ride shuttle that takes you inside the balloon fiesta. Make sure to bring comfortable shoes. You able to bring food and drinks from outside but no alcohol. They do check bags to ensure the safety of the public. Plenty of police officers at side. Medical services are at site if needed. So many shops inside for clothing, food, and other souvenirs and much more. Plenty of restrooms if needed to take care of your needs. All in all it's a must in your bucket list!

My suggestion: DO NOT BUY advanced tickets of the Albuquerque international Balloon Fest. We had friends come in from out of town and bought advance tickets. The morning of the fiesta we left our hotel at 5 AM. We were stuck in traffic for two hours, and by 7 AM in the morning, there were no parking spots available. Very poor planning!! For the city of Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Police Department. They were not helpful. They did not tell us any alternative lots that we could go to. Once the balloons launch it's a wonderful experience however I would recommend that you wait to see if you can get parking before you buy tickets. They sell tickets at the park. They oversell online for advanced tickets and then you are unable to see the experience in the park. We won't be going again. Very disappointing. There are no refunds offered. A real shame on behalf of Albuquerque and the planning committee.

Wow, this is something different! A friend invited me to join the chase crew. What an experience! The good part was getting 'behind the scenes' where the baloons are set up, how they are inflated, the thought that goes into the entire event. This is a whole new world with its own lingo, etiquette, customs, etc. This year had a solar eclipse to go with the festivities. That was a great added touch that just happend to be a bonus. Great event, great time.

Bucket List experience... the event is so well planned and the staff and volunteers make sure every question and need is handled. Great pricing for and International event. This makes this event affordable for all. Albuquerque has so many things to do and see-- From Sandia Peak, Old Town, wildlife and more... only an hour from Santa Fe... still a days drive to White Sands National Park and Carlsbad Caverns.... We highly recommend a NM vacation... Enjoy this amazing America!

I was invited to the yelp elite event at balloon fiesta. It was a delightful time! There was yummy charcuterie and libations provided. It was wonderful to see the balloon gondolas blowing fire up into the air!! There was also woodworking, arts and crafts, food, drinks, freebies/samples, great people watching, flamenco dancers, car/rv displays, fireworks and magnificent pyrotechnic skydivers! Another highlight was a fantastic sunset backdrop! Thank you Yelp and balloon fiesta!!!!

This review is for the Park & Ride at Coronado Center. This was my first time to the fiesta so I've never driven myself there, but I am sure there are pros & cons to both options. We arrived at Coronado Center at 3:40am for our 4am shuttle. I assumed that the buses departed at 4am, but they did not even allow anyone to go through metal detectors & scan tickets until 4am. Even with being 20 minutes early, the line was very long ... or so I thought. In no time, the line quadrupled! SO many people, which made us in the top quarter of the line. The line moved quickly through metal detectors & to scan tickets. But loading the buses was interesting. They load a group at a time (say 10 buses perhaps) and then all 10 leave at once. So our bus didn't depart until 4:45, which was a bit annoying to me considering that the event was only 20 minutes away & several hundred people were ready to go before 4am. It took us 30 minutes to get to the field, but I've included a screenshot of Apple Maps and how bad the traffic around the field, compared to where our bus was at that moment in time (about 5:15). So the bus definitely won for right of way! Plus you do get dropped off curbside which is nice! When you get to the field, it's hard to know where to sit ... but honestly it doesn't matter! There are no bad seats & you can move around as much as you want! It's so fun! You can bring your own food which I highly recommend because the day I went, there were easily tens of thousands of people there. It was overwhelming & lines were long EVERYWHERE. We got in our bus line to return to Coronado Center and it was so long that it stretched out onto the field! But the line moved relatively quick considering the high volume & we made it onto our bus in 30 minutes. It was definitely worth the experience seeing 600+ balloons ascending in the sunrise :)

Is that a bird? A plane? A flying wombat? NO, it's a hot air balloon bruh! NGL, both of us have wanted to visit this festival for our entire lives. This is a total dream come true for sure. We NEVER anticipated the enormity of this festival. It. Is. Absolutely. HUGE! Hundreds of balloons all over a grassy field, hundreds of food and craft vendors and a SEA of humans. If you don't like crowds? Not gonna be enjoyable by any means. The vibe while you're at the festival is palpable. You will never know how it feels to see hundreds of balloons above you until you actually have it happen. It is a down right spiritual experience. The ONLY complaint we have are the bathrooms. The signage stinks and the lines are SMACK YO MOMMA LONG. If you have bladder control issues....uhhhh, wear a diaper!? Totally a worthwhile experience. Even if you only can do it once, JUST DO IT!

Happy 50th - once again the fiesta has taken shape with the intensity of fiestas before COVID. Our previous visits have been during the week. Today we are here on day 1. There are plenty of vendors and fair type eateries. But regardless of when you go it's a worthwhile experience and needs to be on everyone's bucket list. We're fortunate to live here and able to go.

We went here while touring the southwest (kind of planned the trip around it) because we thought it would be cool to see. We've seen hot air balloons before; they have a race every year in the city where we live. Planning for it, it seemed like a bit of a hassle - arranging a place to stay, a place to park where I can get a shuttle, getting up at 4:30 AM to make the shuttle, etc. But after we got there and the balloons started getting inflated and going up, it was all worth it. It was so cool! At times the skies were full of balloons! I wouldn't be surprised if there were 200 balloons that took off. In case that's not enough, there must have been another 20 or 30 (or more) that inflated but never took off. So cool and I'd highly recommend this. I'd consider this a bucket list item. And all this on a day NOT scheduled to have a mass ascension!

It's been a minute since I last went to the Balloon Fiesta. It's not because I haven't wanted to, but I've been rather busy the last few years around the time it came around. Not to mention it was canceled last year due to the ongoing pandemic we've been facing. Thank goodness we were able to host it this year! I along with a few other Yelp Elites were fortunate enough to be offered the opportunity to experience the balloon fiesta in its glory this year. The only disappointment out of the experience was the weather cancelling the balloon glow. Fortunately they still hosted a glow just without the balloons up. Other than that it was rather amazing. Lots of tents were up. From the food vendors, the souvenirs, to the T-Mobile and Xfinity tents there was plenty to see! This year was the first time I'd ever had to rent a scooter because my foot is messed up. It put a whole new light on the experience. Not to mention it was kinda fun zipping around the park in that thing! Had it not been for that I'm not sure I would've made it the entire stay. I was fortunate to have exclusive access to the media tent which had an amazing view of the field! It goes without saying I had a blast! Hopefully next year I won't need a scooter but if I should I know just where to go! Until next year, we'll see each other again Balloon Fiesta!

Specifically came to Albuquerque in 2019 to attend the Balloon Fiesta and it was a unique and cool experience. During the fiesta, Albuquerque is a mad house. The highways and side streets to the parking lots are packed and backed up. Expect to be waiting at least an hour in traffic if you didn't get there super early. Once you get there you do have to pay for parking and there are lots of helpful parking staff to guide you to spots. This is definitely an activity that requires lots of walking so wear comfortable shoes. Walking up to the entrance there is another line for entry and ticket taking. You do have to go through security, but it didn't take to long. Once inside, you are free to roam the grounds and look at the many different hot air balloons. It's a great experience because you can watch the owners and helpers set up their balloons and eventually lift off. Some of them even hand out cards that have the balloon picture and a little bit of it's history on them. There are a couple food stands and maybe two or three sit down "restaurants" that you can choose from. There are also some souvenir stands set up that have some cool items like pins and shirts from particular hot air balloons. Overall, it's really interesting to see how many people from all over the world participate in this festival and how much joy it brings to everyone involved!

Lots of fun! The balloons are beautiful day or night! It gets SUPER crowded so leaving hours early to get a parking g spot is a must!!! The line to get in was long but went by quickly, there are a ton of food vendors set up, you will have to wait a while in lines. If you go a few hours early bring chairs or a blanket to sit on for the wait. Overall a super fun experience!!!

Bucket list material for sure! One of the most amazing experiences you can have on this planet. Highly recommended!

Balloon Fiesta 2019 in A-B-Q. Day 1: (Opening Day - AM) What should have been a normal 7 minute drive took us almost an hour at 4:15am. Go early and just sit in the car if you have to! We attended the Breakfast and Balloons event at the Balloon Museum. They have indoor seating and an outdoor patio area. This event is great for people who want to avoid the crowds, but still get a spectacular view. We saw dawn patrol, then a few balloons fly. Then the fog set in. One local there said in the 21 years he had lived there, he had never seen fog like that. Lucky us... Day 1: PM Crazy traffic again. We missed the balloons inflating, but sat on the near empty field at the Balloon Museum (our AM event allowed us access all day) and had a rockstar view of the glow, the skydivers, and the fireworks. Yay to not standing shoulder to shoulder with strangers. Day 2: AM Learned our lesson from the previous morning and left at 3:30am. Believe it or not, we get through the metal detectors and into the park at 4:15am and there are already MASSES in there. All the concessions were already open too. We did the hot air balloon ride this time via Rainbow Ryders and it was FRICKIN' AMAZING. It will cost you a pretty penny, but where else are you going to take a hot air balloon ride with 500+ others balloons surrounding you? A check off the bucket list. Day 2: PM Into the park for the Balloon Glow. So cool to get an up close and personal look at the balloons all lit up. The fireworks show was the same as Day 1, but just as spectacular. Was it everything that I thought it would be? Yes, and more! Go! Even if you abhor crowds like I do, there are little tips and tricks to getting around them. And even in the midst of it, it wasn't bad. It's part of the experience!

We were privileged to go to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta on media passes with a parking pass. There was supposed to be a Glow, but because of the wind, the balloons never inflated. Only 13 balloons were on the field with baskets upright and doing blasts of flame periodically. They were allowing people to stand in the baskets and pose for pictures. There was a media tent with some wines and soft drinks. They had bags of fried pork rinds and an assortment of ice cream bars. M'Tucci's Restaurant provided a crudités platter that was distributed by servers. Very nice. Thank you M'Tucci's. The highlight of the whole night was the amazing sunset. I will post pictures of that. We met some wonderful people, who we shared a pic table with and have made some new friends. It was a fun evening.

Beautiful bucket list event. I am so glad I went. They had all of the balloons which gave me all of the feels- beautiful! So many friendly faces and great places to eat that are inexpensive. I event shopped and purchased blankets, shawls, ponchos, and a sweater for my nephew. The only thing I would do is more bathrooms, more bathrooms, more bathrooms- of course. Which is always a given at large festivals. I also loved the sweet courtesy shuttles that would take you back and forth to your car or the ride share area- they saved my life. So sweet. They will not accept any tips, don't even think about it. The first day I grabbed an Indian breakfast taco- it was delicious. I love the fry bread! Yum! That night I had a corn dog- greasy, but.... yum! Lol The morning mass accession was breath taking. The night glow- super stunning. My favorite, the dawn patrol/morning glow. Spectacular! They also need to make the ride share pick up and drop off easier. I waited almost an hour an a half after Saturday's events. All in all- it was so incredibly amazing! It feels like you are in another world.

You must visit here and experience this magical moment once in your life time. It's better to go as early as possible to avoid traffic. Always watch for the weather too. Most shows got cancelled in 2022 because of unavoidable weather.

I write this review with a bit of disappointment. I drove out to the Albuquerque balloon fiesta from Arizona this year. It is about a 6.5 hour drive and I drove out early Saturday to get in town for the evening festivities. Unfortunately, on Saturday and Sunday most balloon events were shut down due to wind. I understand that nature is the determining factor, but the event continuously led people on to believe there was a chance that the balloons would launch. I felt like they needed to be far more transparent than they were. Also, the event gave Sunday attendees a chance to roll their tickets over to next year due to the lack of balloon events... however, they did not give Saturday attendees that same option, which is not fair whatsoever. I'm going to try again next year, but after that I might give up on the event. It's been on my bucket list, so I'm pretty bummed by the experience as a whole.

Very nice! Lots of wonderful vendors, artisans, and food vendors. We did a lot of Christmas shopping. Watching the balloons fill up and take off was breathtaking. There were also International Balloons. We got there at 5:00 a.m. and got to see the balloons as they lit up before dawn. We did not get to see the night launch due to high winds but enjoyed walking around hand in hand and just window or actual shopping and relaxing.

2019 Day 2..Simply a beautiful day to watch the balloons. We arrived at the park 5:30am. It's still dark, good food. Then Pow!!!! The Hot Air Balloons all shapes and sizes are up in your face then lift off magically. We do this every year and it seems to get better every year!!..:) "We are a sucker for you...I've been dancing on top of cars and stumbling out of bars. I follow you through the dark, can't get enough. You're the medicine and the pain, the tattoo inside my brain...And, baby, you know it's obvious...you're making the typical me break my typical rules....It's true, I'm a sucker for you"..:) Enjoy!! Thanks for reading. Avram Brothers

Ok so... I am basing this off of my 3 day Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta experience. I am going to knock the most important point out immediately for those who don't like to read much: GO REALLY REALLY EARLY. LIKE BE THERE BY 4am THE LATEST TYPE EARLY. On the first attempt to go to Balloon Fiesta, we left our house 2.5 hours early and were stuck watching the mass ascension from the highway. I admit my sadness levels were at an all time high because imagine the people that came from other countries and states (like us) and had no possible away to get in to the park even if they wanted to. The gridlocked traffic was SO BAD and so UNORGANIZED that it almost felt disrespectful. The city needs to learn how to better maneuver that as the popularity of the fiesta continues to grow. We woke up the next day at 3am and were in the drive in and park with no issues upon arrival. I admit I loved that we did it this way as it gave us time to go to the Canon booth which gave us really cute pins, took a great photo booth picture, and they offered FREE EQUIPMENT to shoot with as a rental while getting your lens/camera cleaned. I was in awe by how cool all of these amenities were which were available FOR FREE (had to repeat that). Give yourself time to explore before the mass ascension because trust me you'll find some cool things! Balloon Fiesta is absolutely worth it.... but GO EARLY. Trust me.