A Few Things to Know to Make Your Experience All It Can Be
Hot air balloons fill the skies of Albuquerque, New Mexico each year. For a full nine days each October, Albuquerque is the place to be for balloon lovers. Grande Valley is the location of this epic balloon festival and if you are set to visit Albuquerque during this amazing event, there are a few things you will want to know about the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
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Dawn Patrol Starts Early
For those visiting the International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque for the first time, you need to know about the Dawn Patrol. Although it seems like an outdated tradition among festival-goers, it serves a very important purpose. Hot air balloons require optimal weather to fly. Too windy and flying a balloon can be dangerous. The Dawn Patrol is here to help make it safe for all who fly.
Each morning, at around 5:45, depending on the weather, the Dawn Patrol inflates the first balloons of the day for the initial flight. Although it originated as a security measure for the festival, the Dawn Patrol performs the essential service to determine whether conditions at various altitudes to determine if and how high it is safe for balloons to be flown. This tradition draws a significant crowd each day, so be prepared to show up before dawn to find the perfect place to view this daily event.
The True Start to the Show Each Day
There is a lot of tradition involved in the International Balloon Fiesta and if you think the Dawn Patrol is the only one, you are mistaken. Each day at 7 am, every balloon on the festival grounds is inflated and launched simultaneously into the sky. Not only is this a site for the eyes, but an experience for the ears. The Star-Spangled Banner plays while field managers, also known as Zebras, help to safely launch hundreds of multicolored, and multi-shaped hot air balloons into the Albuquerque morning sun.
Sundown is Not the End
If it were not enough that the early dawn hours bring a show, the evening is another tradition among balloon enthusiasts and festival attendees. At the end of the night, the balloon glows fill the air. This is the time when the sun is going down on the festival’s daily activities and balloon owners light their propane burners all at once to light up the area for a choreographed burn. It is a site to be seen. At the end of this beautiful expression of light and fun, fireworks fill the night sky and a unique laser show makes the end of the day amazing.
A Walk and Talk Festival
Due to safety concerns, balloon festivals have become a hazard for many visitors. Therefore, talking to the pilots and walking around in close proximity to balloons is prohibited in other balloon festivals. The International Balloon Fiesta has maintained a remarkably safe environment for their pilots and festival-goers. That gives them the ability to allow for more of an intimate environment in which festival-goers are allowed to walk around freely and talk to balloon pilots. Safety is their number one concern, so safety measures are always in place.
Not All Balloons Are Round
When you think of an H, you likely think of colorful, mostly round balloons dotting the sky. However, in Albuquerque, any shape and style of a hot air balloon is permitted. Designs for these amazing pieces of flyable art vary from simple round models to elaborate character-based shapes. There is no limit to what you will see flying through the skies of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Need to Store Your Balloon?
Balloon storage is a complicated matter. You do not want to risk anything happening to your prized balloon and security measures at the event can be a challenge at night when the festival is closed. Consider storing your balloon in one of Albuquerque’s many storage facilities. Storing your balloon in a storage unit in Albuquerque gives you piece of mind and even though the event is 9 days, should you want to stay longer, you can enjoy the sights and sounds of Albuquerque for as long as you wish.
Hot air balloons are amazing to see and if you have yet to go to the International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, you have been missing out. Take the family out for a day or better yet, for the entire 9-day event. The beauty of these balloons can be seen for miles, but until you have gotten up close and personal with the pilots and other balloon enthusiasts, you have not seen all that can be seen. A balloon ride at the festival is simply unparalleled, so get your tickets and go see the International Balloon Festival.
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