Ultimate Guide To The Albuquerque Balloon Festival 2024

Excited to go to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival 2024? Well, you’re in the right place as I will cover everything you need to know about attending the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta over 9 days of hot air ballooning fun!

There are certain experiences that need to be on everyone’s bucket list and attending the balloon festival in Albuquerque should be at the top.

It is an unreal feeling to watch hundreds of hot air balloons ascend in a vibrant array of magic.

There are not many things that leave me speechless, but taking part in the festival, I felt like a kid on Christmas morning waiting in both excitement and anticipation.

Throughout this guide, I’ll answer the biggest questions and provide tips on how to get the best possible experience from your first balloon fiesta!

October is one of the best months to visit New Mexico for the beautiful weather, Aspen trees in bright yellow, and the sky decorated with hundreds of balloons.

Note: I will update this post every year so that you have the information needed to attend.

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Where Is The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Held?

This spectacular event is held in Albuquerque, New Mexico which is in the Southwest portion of the United States.

Specifically, the festival is held at the Balloon Fiesta Park which is north of downtown Albuquerque.

The best address to get you to the park is for the Balloon Museum which is on the edge of the park at 9201 Balloon Museum Dr NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico laying in a valley in between the Sandia Mountains and the Rio Grande River.

Be aware that Albuquerque is at a high elevation of 5,312 feet (1,619 meters) so take precautions if you are sensitive to high altitude.

Drinking plenty of water, limiting alcohol, and easing into physical activity can help reduce issues.

Albuquerque is about 1 hour from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and about 2.5 hours from Taos, New Mexico.

Make sure to explore my posts one what to do in Santa Fe and the best day trips from Santa Fe!

Another remarkable place to see in New Mexico is the gorgeous white sand dunes of White Sands National Park in southern New Mexico.

Tip: The balloon festival is the highlight this time of year but don’t miss out on other cool things to do in Albuquerque outside of the festival!

Get A PDF Of This Guide For Your Trip

For your convenience, you can download a copy of this Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta guide or print it to take with you. It includes pictures and links within the post. It’s ad-free ad handy for on the go!

Buy Your Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta PDF Guide Today!

When Is The Albuquerque Balloon Festival?

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is held every year in the beginning of October for a total of 9 days.

For 2024, the balloon fiesta is scheduled for October 5^th, 2024 and ending on October 13^th, 2024.

You might wonder why October? Well, I am not an expert in the science of it all, but October has ideal weather conditions for flying a hot air balloon.

And specifically, in the high desert valley of Albuquerque. At this time of year, the mornings are very cool which helps the balloons get their lift.

Once the sun rises it creates an effect called the “Albuquerque Box”. This metaphorical box allows balloons to take off and land in pretty much the same place.

October tends to have some of the best weather of the year as it is still warm during the day without the intense heat or cold as in other months.

The early mornings do get very cold, so the key is to bundle up in layers as the early morning temps can range from 30 F and 40 F.

As the sun comes up, the temperatures will increase and get hot!

October tends to have some of the best weather of the year as it is still warm during the day without the intense heat or cold as in other months. The early mornings are what I would call freezing!

The key is to bundle up in layers as the morning temps around 4:00 am range from 30 F and 40 F. As the sun comes up, the temperatures will increase and get hot.

Best Place To Stay For Albuquerque Balloon Festival 2024

I recommend staying in downtown Albuquerque (~ 15 mins away) or near Balloon Fiesta Park during the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta for convenience.

Albuquerque Hotels Near Balloon Fiesta Park

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Balloon Fiesta Park – This is the closest hotel to the Balloon Festival, only 1 mile away!

Doubletree Albuquerque Downtown – I stayed here and thought it was very nice and perfect for my stay, about 15 minutes away.

Los Poblanos Historic Inn – Stay at this tranquil, gorgeous, and historic inn about 15 minutes from the festival.

Hotel Parq Central – This is another hotel that I would recommend that I would recommend as it looked very nice and as a bonus, it has a rooftop bar!

Camping Near Albuquerque Balloon Festival

You have a few options when it comes to camping at the balloon fiesta in Albuquerque, camp in a tent, RV, or enjoy the plush glamping experience.

The major benefit of getting a camp spot with your RV or a glamping tent is the location! You can walk to all the balloon festivities and not worry about driving.

If you have never glamped before, it is a very nice and upscale safari tent that is somewhere between camping in a regular tent and staying in a hotel.

The glamping tents are located in a tent village in a section of the balloon park with a 3-night stay required and entry tickets to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta included for most camp options.

Camping prices range from $35 to $250/night and glamping ranges from $1,600 to $2,600 for 3 nights.

Note: For glamping, tent camping, and RV camping, you need to book months in advance as there are limited spots. You can book on the official website as early as January for the upcoming year.

Tip: If you are staying in or near downtown Albuquerque it will take about 15-20 mins to get to the park. But I recommend giving yourself 30 – 45 mins to get there as there will be a line to get in.

How Far In Advance Do I Need To Buy Tickets?

You don’t need to purchase your general admission tickets in advance if you don’t want to. You can buy them months before or the week of the festival.

I purchased my tickets in advance as I prefer to have most of my planning done ahead of time but each to their own.

No matter when you decide to purchase tickets, buy them online so you don’t have to worry about standing in any lines when you arrive.

And you can purchase your parking or shuttle ahead of time with your tickets when done online.

You do need to plan ahead and book your lodging and a rental car for the festival far in advance as they may be hard to find at a reasonable price last minute.

How Much Are Tickets To The Albuquerque Balloon Festival?

For general admission, tickets are $15 per session. Children under 12 are free.

One session includes all morning activities OR all evening activities. So, if you want to go to both the morning and evening sessions, you need to purchase tickets for 2 sessions.

If you want a more VIP experience, there are a number of different ticket options for a higher price that includes a variety of food, drink, chairs, and other perks.

VIP Tickets To The Balloon Fiesta

If you are looking for a VIP experience, there are a few options. If you are invited by one of the sponsors, then you are set!

But if you don’t have any of those connections, there is the Gondola Club and Chasers Club that you can buy a ticket to.

Gondola Club ($130 per adult) – The ticket includes entry into a private area that has tents with a buffet of food, coffee, and drinks.

There is some seating in one of the tents but most of the seating is outside so bundle up! The seating has an excellent view of the balloons on the edge of the field.

I attended the Gondola Club on my first morning and overall, I enjoyed having a place to sit down and have something to eat before the fiesta got started. But I do think that they could do better on the quality of the food served.

I didn’t stay in the private Gondola Club area long after the balloons began preparing to go up as I wanted to go walk among the balloons!

Is the Gondola Club worth it? Yes, if money isn’t a problem, as you do get private bathrooms and super close parking included too.

Chasers Club ($65 per adult) – If you want a VIP experience without the higher price tag, the Chaser Club is a great option as you get access to a private outdoor seating area and a light breakfast/snacks.

What Are The Best Days To Attend The Balloon Festival?

If you are fortunate enough to attend any day at the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival, then that is a spectacular day!

I recommend attending 3 – 4 sessions over a few days. Having said that, if your schedule is flexible try to attend during the week as it is less crowded than the weekends.

I attended on a Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday with both morning and evening sessions and loved the different experiences between them all. I did notice a substantial increase in attendance on Saturday.

Tip: If you only have one day to pick, go to a morning session that has a Mass Ascension!

Note: Plan on doing a lot of walking the days you are at the festival and have super comfy walking shoes. Having a pair of shoes that you can stand or walk in all day is vital…

How Many Sessions Should I Attend?

Since this is a bucket list event to attend, plan several days to be in New Mexico and go to multiple sessions.

I would recommend attending 3 – 4 sessions for a few reasons. First, each session is different and it is exciting to see the variation in balloons and shows.

Second, the balloon fiesta is at the mercy of mother nature, so you are not guaranteed to see the balloons go up.

That is why you want to allow several days in the area. My first session was beyond amazing but the second day, it was too windy, and no balloon was going up for almost 2 days.

At first, I was devastated as that meant my own balloon ride was canceled. But thankfully I was in New Mexico for over a week touring other cities too.

The days the festival was canceled I went to visit Santa Fe and the quaint town of Taos. The following days the wind died down and balloons were able to go up again!

I met a few people that arrived on the day the festival was canceled due to wind and they were obviously heartbroken as they only planned the one day to attend.

Usually, there are no weather issues but just in case, allow a buffer in your schedule and attend a few sessions for this reason over multiple days.

What Is The Difference Between Sessions?

Before you book tickets to a particular session, determine what you are most interested in seeing by looking at the schedule. I attended 4 different sessions over 3 days as I wanted to experience the different sessions myself.

Each session is different from day to day and between the morning and evening sessions.

• Morning Session is from 5:00 am to 10:00 am
• Evening Session is from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Within each session, there are different shows each day. The shows that I think are a must are the Dawn Patrol, Morning Glow, and Mass Ascension in the Morning Session.

The top shows in the Evening Session are:

• Special Shape Glowdeo 
• AfterGlow Fireworks.

Here is a quick summary breakdown of the main shows:

Dawn Patrol:
This takes place before dawn where a handful of pilots lift up the balloons to test the winds and determine the conditions before all the balloons go up.

It is a gorgeous scene to look out at a pitch-dark sky and see random balloons light up the skyline with their fire illuminating the field.

Mass Ascension: 
This is the best show, where over 500 hot air balloons ascend into the morning sky all at once. It is a phenomenal sight and will leave you speechless… Likely every photo you have seen of the fiesta is from Mass Ascension.

Special Shape Rodeo & Glowdeo: 
This show ended up being so fun as all the unusual shaped balloons are mostly cartoon characters and animals for a whimsical show.

Twilight & Night Balloon Glow: 
This is when the burners of the balloons are ignited and you can see what looks like a light dancing celebration!

Best Place To View The Balloons?

If you are in the Balloon Fiesta Park, then you can see the balloons from pretty much anywhere.

At the first session I attended, I watched on the edge of the field from the Gondola Club tent. It was great but I wanted a closer view of the balloons.

Before going, I had no idea that you are able to walk on the field and among the balloons as they are setting up and taking flight.

To me, that was insane and yet so exciting. At first, I was thinking, could this be safe? But they have an extremely good safety record which put me at ease.

It is rare that you are allowed onto the field with the balloons close enough to touch them! Be alert as balloons are moving and taking flight all over the place.

It is an unreal experience to take part in the launching of the balloons…

That said, I would start out on the outer parts of the field to take in the whole scene as the action of turning on the balloon burners startup.

Get some great photos and then wander in and out through hundreds of balloons toward the center of the field as they go up!

There really is no bad spot to watch the balloon activity but expect to be on your feet as you can continuously walk over to the next wave of balloons getting ready to take off.

You can bring a foldup chair or blanket and just stay put, but in my opinion, that’s not as fun!

Can I Go Up In A Hot Air Balloon?

Yes, you can go up in a hot air balloon at the balloon festival in Albuquerque!

An important thing to know is that there are a limited number of balloons that go up each day for regular people like you and me.

The rest are teams that are flying their balloons as part of the fiesta competition.

For that reason, book your ticket to go up in a hot air balloon ride with Rainbow Ryders as soon as you decide to go. Like 6 months or more before to secure your spot.

Rainbow Ryders is the only company that flies during the festival. So, no need to shop around!

The price you pay will be at least double than if you were to take a hot air balloon ride, any day outside of the festival.

It comes down to demand. There are limited spots and it is the BEST balloon ride when you are among so many balloons. It really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is worth the splurge.

I’m terrified of heights, so I was a little hesitant to get into the basket. But once we took off, all nerves were gone, and I was giddy with joy at how amazing it felt to be up so high in the sky among so many balloons.

You wouldn’t even know you are moving unless you looked at the ground below. It was surprisingly peaceful and quiet except for when the burner turned on.

When the pilot gives directions and tells you how to prepare for landing, listen up! I was too excited and blanked out on what he said and failed to brace myself properly.

The landing was a little bumpy for a few seconds and I bruised my hand. But totally my fault as I didn’t hold on properly…

Get A PDF Of This Guide For Your Trip

For your convenience, you can download a copy of this Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta guide or print it to take with you. It includes pictures and links within the post. It’s ad-free ad handy for on the go!

Buy Your Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta PDF Guide Today!

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2024 Schedule

Saturday, October 5^th:

• Dawn Patrol Show @ 6:00 am
• Morning Glow @ 6:30 am
• Mass Ascension @ 7:00 am
• America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Launch @ 6:00 pm
• Twilight Twinkle Glow @ 6:00 pm
• AfterGlow Fireworks Show @ 8:00 pm

Sunday, October 6^th:

• Dawn Patrol Show @ 6:00 am
• Morning Glow @ 6:30 am
• Mass Ascension @ 7:00 am
• Fiestas de Los Globitos RC Balloons Exhibition @ 7:30 am
• Balloon Glow @ 6:00 pm
• Team Fastrax Skydiving @ 7:30 pm
• AfterGlow Fireworks Show @ 8:00 pm

Monday, October 7^th:

• Dawn Patrol @ 6:00 am
• Ascension-Balloon Launch @7:00 am
• Competition Balloon Flying @ 7:00 am

Tuesday, October 8^th:

• Dawn Patrol @ 6:00 am
• Ascension-Balloon Launch @ 7:00 am
• Competition Balloon Flying @ 7:00 am

Wednesday, October 9^th:

• Dawn Patrol Show @ 6:00 am
• Morning Glow @ 6:30 am
• Flight of the Nations Mass Ascension @ 7:00 am
• Fiestas de Los Globitos RC Balloons Exhibition @ 7:30 am

Thursday, October 10^th:

• Dawn Patrol Show @ 6:00 am
• Special Shape Rodeo @ 7:00 am
• Competition Balloon Flying @ 8:00 am
• Special Shape Glowdeo @ 6:00 pm
• Team Fastrax Skydiving @ 7:30 pm
• AfterGlow Fireworks Show @ 8:00 pm

Friday, October 11^th:

• Dawn Patrol Show @ 6:00 am
• Special Shape Rodeo @ 7:00 am
• Fiestas de Los Globitos RC Balloons Exhibition @ 7:30 am
• Competition Balloon Flying @ 8:00 am
• Special Shape Glowdeo @ 6:00 pm
• Team Fastrax Skydiving @ 7:30 pm
• AfterGlow Fireworks Show @ 8:00 pm

Saturday, October 12^th:

• Dawn Patrol Show @ 6:00 am
• Morning Glow @ 6:30 am
• Mass Ascension @ 7:00 am
• Music Fiesta @ 1:00 pm
• Night Magic Glow @ 6:00 pm
• Fiestas de Los Globitos RC Balloon Exhibition @ 6:00 pm
• Team Fastrax Skydiving @ 7:30 pm
• AfterGlow Fireworks Show @ 8:00 pm

Sunday, October 13^th:

• Dawn Patrol Show @ 6:00 am
• Morning Glow @ 6:30 am
• Farewell Mass Ascension @ 7:00 am

How To Get To The Balloon Fiesta?

The main airport to fly into is the Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) and about a 15 – 20-minute drive to Balloon Fiesta Park.

You could grab an Uber/Lyft but if you plan to see attractions that are further out you may want to rent a car. Especially if you want to visit Santa Fe or White Sands National Park.

In anticipation of your trip, start exploring the best flight deals to Albuquerque!

There are multiple ways to get to and from Balloon Fiesta Park. The obvious is to drive and park at the festival.

I personally didn’t mind this option as although there are a ton of cars, I was impressed at how well they have it controlled as it doesn’t take that long to get in and out.

They have years of experience in mastering traffic flow and exceeded my expectations.

But if you don’t want to drive and pay for the $20 parking fee per vehicle, you can purchase a park and ride ticket online instead.

There are a handful of places to park and then take a bus that drops you off in front. The cost for the park and ride is $25 per adult but includes your ticket into one session at the festival.

Taking an Uber or Lyft won’t save you much more time as they will still have to wait in the line of cars like everyone else.

If you are really ambitious, you can ride your bike into the park for free. For me, there is no chance of me getting on a bike around 4:00 am…

Tip: If you or anyone in your group has a hard time walking around or a disability, you can rent a wheelchair or a motorized scooter. Rentals are at both the north and south entrances into the park.

Tips For Attending The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

• The morning session starts out freezing, so bundle up with a jacket, scarf, and gloves. The key is to wear layers as it will warm up throughout the day.
• Wear comfy shoes as you will be on your feet and walking around most of the time. For the most comfortable walking shoe that is cute too.
• Hand and feet warmers are a lifesaver in the early mornings! You can order the hand warmers and feet warmers I used.
• In contrast to the tip above, have sunscreen with you. Once the sun comes up it can get warm and as there isn’t any shade you want to be prepared.
• After the sun pops up, it is quite sunny, so have sunglasses and a hat handy.
• Carry hand sanitizer or wet wipes.
• When you first arrive in the early morning around 4:00 am it is very dark so using a headlamp is nice to keep your hands free!
• A majority of the vendors only seem to accept cash. Some take credit cards, but I would have some cash with you and can access an ATM if you need more.
• Drink plenty of water and limit alcohol consumption as it is dry and with a high elevation you want to hydrate.
• The weather is warm and dry with potential wind. To prevent your hands from feeling like the skin of an alligator, carry some hand lotion.
• If you are with others, pick a spot where you can all meet up if you get lost. Trust me, in a blink, you lose the people you are with fast.
• You can bring a blanket or chair, but you will likely be walking among the balloons and not using the chair.
• And finally, make sure you book in advance to go up in a hot air balloon ride as the slots will sell out!

Extra Bonus Tip: Download the Fiesta App to use throughout your visit and get weather alerts, etc…

Photo Tips!

• It should go without saying but bring your camera and GoPro to take the coolest photos.
• Make sure you have a wide-angle lens otherwise you won’t get an entire balloon in your frame if you are decently close. I took almost all my photos using a wide-angle lens.
• For the early morning session and near sunset, use a tripod with a remote.
• Get to the balloon fiesta park early and as soon as parking opens up so you have time to setup. You don’t want to feel rushed and miss out!

Fiesta Sponsors

When I attended, Canon Camera was the official presenting sponsor for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.

But for 2024, the presenting sponsor is Exxon Mobil.

The presenting sponsor will have its own balloon that you can see daily at the balloon grounds.

There are a number of smaller sponsors and if you are lucky enough to be invited, you can hang in one of their VIP tents.

Food Options At The Fiesta

You are able to bring food in with you as long as it isn’t in a glass container. There are a handful of picnic tables or you can picnic on the grassy field.

If you would rather buy something to eat there are numerous food vendors to choose from such as burgers, hotdogs, pizza, and ice cream.

Nothing that stands out but average I would say for an event or festival. I would have a snack but wait to eat at a great restaurant in town before or after the fiesta.

If you need a caffeine fix, give Pinon coffee a try! If you are looking for some excellent places to eat in Albuquerque, then try one of these:

Tomasita’s (New Mexican food) – 4949 Pan American Freeway NE, Albuquerque, NM

Cocina Azul Downtown (New Mexican food) – 1134 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM

Church Street Café (New Mexican food) – 2111 Church Street NW, Albuquerque, NM

History Of The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

The Fiesta has been the premier hot air balloon festival for over 50 years starting in 1972 and has become an iconic symbol of New Mexico.

In 1972 the festival included 13 balloons and today there are over 500 balloons that are awe-inspiring to see.

Attending the festival was my first time in New Mexico and I really didn’t know much about this beautiful state other than it hosted the most amazing balloon fiesta in the world!

I’m so glad it got me to visit as it is one of the most breathtaking and exhilarating experiences I have ever had. To witness that many balloons in flight at once and to ride in one for the first time is sensational…

Biggest Balloon Festivals In The World

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is not only the biggest balloon festival in New Mexico but in the entire United States and the world!

Yep, Albuquerque, New Mexico is proud to host the biggest and coolest balloon party you will ever see. It is said that it is also the most photographed event in the world too.

If you only get the chance to attend one balloon festival in your lifetime, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta should be it!

So, where are the other awesome balloon festivals in the world? To round out the top 5, they are:

• Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off (Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States) – held on Labor Day Weekend (September)
• Great Reno Balloon Race (Reno, Nevada, United States) – held in the beginning of September
• International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu (near Montreal, Canada) – held mid-August
• Bristol International Balloon Fiesta (Bristol, England) – held the beginning of August

Note: Although it isn’t a festival, going for a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, Turkey should be included in ballooning must experiences! It is still on mine…

FAQs About The Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Festival

Have the best time at the Albuquerque Balloon Festival 2024 as it is a magical experience!

Get A PDF Of This Guide For Your Trip

For your convenience, you can download a copy of this Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta guide or print it to take with you. It includes pictures and links within the post. It’s ad-free ad handy for on the go!

Buy Your Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta PDF Guide Today!

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