Wow! My kids and I just returned from the most colorful weekend ever! We spent a few days in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico and had a fantastic time! The words colorful and Albuquerque don’t usually go together do they? Isn’t everything brown there? Well, mostly yes, but not during the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta!
This nine day festival takes place every year in early October, and it is a great event for the whole family. They say most families who visit the festival are three generations, and some families make it an annual event. Once I get unpacked, I’ll post my Balloon Fiesta tips and also some information on all of the other fun that we had in New Mexico. Now onto the pictures…
What You Can Expect to See at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
Your family can watch the balloons lift off in the early morning while you are standing just a few feet away from the rising hot air balloon. Your kids will be amazed at how small some of those balloon baskets actually are, and some will wish that they were going up into the dark blue sky under that huge balloon.

You either want to ride in the basket or you don’t.
You can feel the heat from the flame and you will definitely feel the excitement as the balloons lift upright.

Seeing a balloon fill with hot air this close up is definitely a first!
My kids always pause and point with excitement when they see a hot air balloon in the sky, can you imagine how excited your kids will be to see this?

The prettiest view in New Mexico!
Everywhere you look there are balloons in the sky and more right next to you waiting to lift off.

The balloons go on forever!
Not all balloons are the same shape….the special shape balloons are always amazing to see. You wonder how some of those huge balloons even lift off of the ground!

A frog is just one of many of the special shaped balloons at the Fiesta.
Your kids will scream with excitement when they see certain balloons rising over the rows of rainbow colored balloons.

May the force be with you at the Balloon Fiesta!
Your family won’t want to miss seeing an evening Balloon Glow! This is a different type of event because the balloons don’t actually rise into the air. They stay on the ground, and once darkness hits, the pilots will light up the balloons creating a field full of glowing balloons. By the way, that field of balloons is the size of 54 football fields put together. It is a sight to see!
For the evening Balloon Glow, you can still get right up to the balloons and watch the crews inflate them.

Inflating the Wells Fargo balloons…the stagecoach is next!
The temperature will be cool in the evenings, but you’ll stay warm from all of the heat!

Turning on the flame for a balloon glow.
The special shaped balloons also take part in the evening Balloon Glow.

This is one big balloon!
Being right on the field, among the balloons, during an evening balloon glow is one first that your kids will definitely not forget!

3,2,1….glow!
One last picture…

What a night!
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