Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Lifts Off!

by ANN Contributor Glen Moyer

For the next ten days the sky over Albuquerque, New Mexico will be painted with every color of the rainbow as some 750 hot air balloons, their pilots and crews, celebrate the 33rd Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. In addition to the ballooning participants, almost 1-million spectators are expected to see some or all of the various flying events, and there is variety for all. Here's a brief synopsis of what the week has in store:

Balloons Over Albuquerque - a select group of pilots visit and launch their balloons from elementary schools throughout the city. This is the only event that does not originate at Fiesta Park.

Fiesta Challenge - a two-day competition for a select 100 pilots. These pilots participate in two "Road Runner-Coyote" flying events on Friday and Saturday afternoons with a prize purse of $30,000. A "Roadrunner-Coyote" race involves a 1st balloon - the roadrunner - launching as the target while the others - coyotes - give chase in an attempt to "catch" the target balloon at its landing site.

Mass Ascensions - the entire 750 balloons launch from Fiesta Park on the opening and closing Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Balloon Glow - a twilight illumination of as many as 300 balloons. These are held on the first Sunday evening and the second Saturday evening.

Championship Competition - the 750 pilots participate in a variety of target based flying competitions toward determining the overall event champion. These events are scheduled Monday through Friday. Friday's competition is always a highlight as that is Key Grab Day. Pilots fly into the field attempting to grab a set of keys to a new car or truck from atop a flagpole erected on the field.

Special Shapes Rodeo - It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a cow jumping over the moon, a blue octopus, a duck, a football, a panda bear, and more. A mass ascension of special shape balloons highlights Thursday and Friday mornings while the evenings feature only the shapes in their own special balloon glows.

Dawn Patrol Show - planned for both weekends and Wednesday morning, a small group of pilots choreograph their inflation and launch in the pre-dawn darkness then fly on till sunrise giving early risers a sparkling light show in the sky.

Flight of the Nations - what would an international fiesta be without a tribute to the balloonists from around the world who visit the Land of Enchantment each year. This mid-week (Wednesday morning) tribute has one balloon from each of the visiting nations taking to the sky before all others.

This and more will make up the 33rd Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. All of the major balloon manufacturers are on hand to demo new products, and there are vendors of everything imaginable both in food (like the original breakfast burrito, fried Twinkies and green chili stew) and merchandise. They don't call it The Big One for nothing!

FMI www.balloonfiesta.com