ABQ To Do Visit Albuquerque Visitors Guide

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2018 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

For nine days in October, the New Mexico skies are painted as hundreds of balloons lift off from Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta Park.

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a world-renowned attraction and destination for kids of all ages. For more than three decades, the first week in October brings the smell of roasting chiles and the beautiful, magical moving picture show of hot air balloons sailing silently through the crisp fall air. Guests from all over the world come to Albuquerque to celebrate ballooning. Literally hundreds of balloons will be taking flight from the Balloon Fiesta Park this year. You won’t want to miss this city-wide celebration!

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a world-renowned attraction and destination for kids of all ages. For more than four decades, the first week in October brings the smell of roasting chiles and the beautiful, magical moving picture show of hot air balloons sailing silently through the crisp fall air.

From its modest beginnings in 1972 with 13 balloons launching from a shopping mall parking lot, the Balloon Fiesta has grown to multiple events launching year-round at the custom-designed, 365-acre Balloon Fiesta Park. Our signature event remains Balloon Fiesta—which, with over 600 balloons, is the largest ballooning event on earth, the most photographed event on earth, and the largest annual international event held in the United States.

Imagine 54 football fields, all put together. That’s the size of Balloon Fiesta Park’s 78-acre launch field! And at this Park’s “playing field,” there are no losing teams and no viewing stands. Guests walk the field and are part of the action.

Hundreds of thousands of smiling, upturned faces, awestruck by the spectacular beauty of hot air balloons filling the big blue New Mexico sky. What you can’t hear until you walk our field at nightfall is the thrilling roar of hundreds of burners simultaneously igniting, turning the Park into a huge lighted Christmas tree of colorful balloons. What you can’t feel until you join us is the massive joy everywhere around you.

Balloon Fiesta Park is located north of Alameda Boulevard, one mile west of I-25.

Saturday, October 6

Morning Session Evening Session
6:00 Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Park, more… 1:30 – 5:00 AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational
6:30 Krispy Kreme Morning Glow

Laser Light Show

6:00 Twilight Twinkle Glow™ presented by Albuquerque Journal
6:45 Opening Ceremonies 7:45 Laser Light Show
7:00 Mass Ascension, presented by Canon, more… 8:00 AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show presented by Sandia Resort & Casino
8:30 – 11:30 AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

Sunday, October 7

Morning Session Evening Session
6:00 Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Park, more… 1:30 – 5:00 AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational
6:30 Krispy Kreme Morning Glow

Laser Light Show

6:00 Balloon Glow
7:00 Mass Ascension, more… 7:45 Laser Light Show
8:30 – 11:30 AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational 8:00 AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show presented by Sandia Resort & Casino
9:00 Fiesta of Wheels Car Show, located on north end of Launch Field
11:00 Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading (Group Tour Tent north end of Main Street)

Monday, October 8
Propane day presented by Airgas, an Air Liquide Company

Morning Session Evening Session
6:00 Dawn Patrol, more… No events
6:30 Laser Light Show
7:00 Balloons Launch from Park
8:00 Competition Balloon Flying Begins
8:00 – 11:00 AIBF Chainsaw Carving Demonstrations

Tuesday, October 9
Coca-Cola Day

Morning Session Evening Session
6:00 Dawn Patrol, more… No events
6:30 Laser Light Show
7:00 Balloons Launch from Park
8:00 Competition Balloon Flying Begins
8:00 – 11:00 AIBF Chainsaw Carving Demonstrations

Wednesday, October 10

Morning Session Evening Session
6:00 Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Park, more… No Events
6:30 Krispy Kreme Morning Glow

Laser Light Show

7:00 Flight of the Nations Mass Ascension
8:00 Competition Balloon Flying Begins
8:30 – 11:00 AIBF Chainsaw Carving Demonstrations

Thursday, October 11
Kids’ Day presented by KOB-TV

Morning Session Evening Session
6:00 Dawn Patrol, more… 1:30 – 5:00 AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational
6:30 Laser Light Show 6:00 Special Shape Glowdeo™
7:00 Special Shape Rodeo™ presented by Wells Fargo Bank 7:45 Laser Light Show
8:00 Competition Balloon Flying begins 8:00 AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show presented by Sandia Resort & Casino
8:30 – 11:30 AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

Friday, October 12

Morning Session Evening Session
6:00 Dawn Patrol, more… 1:30 – 5:00 AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational
6:30 Laser Light Show 6:00 Special Shape Glowdeo™
7:00 Special Shape Rodeo™ 7:45 Laser Light Show
8:00 Competition Balloon Flying begins 8:00 AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show presented by Sandia Resort & Casino
8:30 – 11:30 AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

Saturday, October 13

Morning Session Evening Session
6:00 Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Park, more… 1:00 – 5:00 Music Fiesta™
6:30 Krispy Kreme Morning Glow

Laser Light Show

1:30 – 5:00  AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational
7:00 Mass Ascension 6:00 Night Magic™ Glow presented by Canon
8:30 – 11:30 AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational 7:45 Laser Light Show
11:00 Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading (Group Tour Tent north end of Main Street) 8:00 AfterGlow™Fireworks Show presented by Sandia Resort & Casino

Sunday October 14

Morning Session
6:00 Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Park, more…
6:30 Krispy Kreme Morning Glow

Laser Light Show

7:00 Farewell Mass Ascension
8:30 – 11:00 AIBF Chainsaw Carving Q & A

*AfterGlow™ times may change due to field/weather conditions
** North end of Launch Field for the pin trading

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