46th ANNUAL ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA

ALBUQUERQUE BALLOON FIESTA

                     ....FIRST WEEK, OCTOBER

The New Mexico State Fair ended last night

after a ten or eleven day run, and now the

attention in these parts is already focused 

on the big world event about to happen here!

Usually some 600 plus balloonists show up

from all over the world. Weird and unusual

balloons participate in what is termed  "The

Special Shapes Rodeo," and this is only one

of the big extra attractions.

There are events early every evening at the

special balloon park (which I believe even

has permanent buildings now, including a

museum);  at night these balloons light up 

beautifully for a "Balloon Glow."

The balloons fly nearly every morning of the nine

day event. which ends on the second Sunday.

"Pilot balloons" go up before dawn to read

the weather and wind velocities.

Generally speaking, one or two "ascension"days 

each year are cancelled due to rain or winds.

This is equally true with the night events.

This popular "fiesta" began circa 1975 with a

dozen or so balloons ascending from the State

Fairgrounds. It then moved for a year or two to

the  Coronado Shopping Center parking lots.

Land was eventually purchased on the North side

of town...For a time a full-time Mexican Restaurant

existed out there.  I am not certain if another took

its place.

The name of the balloon game is food and 

festivities! On the east side of the facility are

rental spaces which fill up with the Airstream

folks. They can sit outside their mobile homes

and have breakfast and watch the whole thing,

daily.

Burritos seem to be the unofficial food of the

event, and since it occurs at breakfast time,

there are countless vending booths on the east 

side, stretching several hundred yards, selling

food...and caps...and jackets...and balloon pins,

and I don't know whatall. Oh, and sweatshirts

with ballon photos on them!

It is a rather grueling daily event---when you arrive

early, stand up for several hours...particularly if

you stay to watch the parachutists jump..

...and hear the Fat Lady Sing!

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MIL

9/19/16