Table of Contents Show
If you’re an RVer, you’ve probably heard of the International Balloon Fiesta held in Albuquerque, N.M., every October. But have you been? If you haven’t, it’s time to start making plans.
The Balloon Festival in Albuquerque will blow your mind! From the night glow of hot air balloons to the acrobatics of skydivers, the event is unlike any other.
So let’s learn more about the balloon festival. Albuquerque is waiting for you!
About the Balloon Festival in Albuquerque
Every October, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta brings hundreds of balloonists and thousands of visitors to watch the sky light up with hot air balloons for nine days.
When it began in 1972, only 13 balloons were launched. But the event has grown so much that there’s now a 365-acre Balloon Fiesta Park where over 500 balloons launch each October.
But it’s not just the launching of hot air balloons that brings visitors from all over the world. The nine-day event includes all kinds of activities like live entertainment, chainsaw carving, and skydiving.
About Albuquerque, N.M.
Albuquerque is in central New Mexico at the intersection of Interstate 40 and Interstate 25. The beautiful Sandia Mountains lie east of New Mexico’s most populous city, while the Rio Grande flows north to south.
According to the US Census in 2020, Albuquerque is home to approximately 564,000 people. It’s famous for its art and diverse restaurant scene that many people enjoy when they attend the Balloon Festival in Albuquerque.
Where Is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta?
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is at the Balloon Fiesta Park. It’s north of Alameda Boulevard, one mile west of Interstate 25.
Because tens of thousands of people attend the event, it’s always best to arrive early or take the provided shuttles from outside the park.
Your Guide to RVing at the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque
If you’re ready to join the 80,000 people attending this year’s Balloon Fiesta, you should know a few things. Understanding how the event operates and navigating the huge crowds are essential to enjoying this enchanting event.
Event Tickets
Tickets go on sale in April. Although you can purchase general admission tickets at the gate, it’s best to order them ahead of time. General admission is $15 per person per session.
The event is divided into morning sessions and evening sessions every day. So the $15 ticket will give one person access to all events in either a one-morning or one-evening session.
Park and Ride tickets are also available for purchase. These provide guests with round-trip transportation to the park without the hassle of traffic and parking. Advanced tickets are cheaper than day-of tickets.
RV Reservations
Although tickets for the Balloon Fiesta go on sale in April, you’ll be too late if you wait until then to book an RV site. These sites generally sell out in January when they first become available.
Tent camping sites are $35 per night. Dry camping sites for RVs range from $50 to $115 per night, depending on the location. RV electrical hookup sites are available for $100 to $250 per night.
For many RVers, the high price is worth it to enjoy balloons launching up close as they tend to rise above the campgrounds and even soar right over the RVs.
Balloon Rides
Rainbow Riders is the official balloon ride company of the Balloon Fiesta. The Balloon Fiesta Mass Ascension Balloon Ride and the Balloon Fiesta Sunset Balloon Ride last about an hour.
Flight availability for the sunset ride will open up in September, right before the Balloon Festival in Albuquerque. You can call Rainbow Riders anytime to get more information and pricing.
Entertainment
The main stage hosts bands and children’s acts throughout the nine-day event. Roving entertainment and interactive education are also available at the Balloon Discovery Center.
Here guests can enjoy interactive exhibits illustrating the principles of lighter-than-air flight, the sport’s history, and the safety aspects of ballooning.
On the second Saturday of the Balloon Fiesta, the Music Fiesta starts at 1:00 p.m. and runs through the evening. This event requires an additional ticket. Popular entertainers like Darius Rucker, Old Dominion, Chris Young, and the Band Perry have performed here.
Photo Contest
Every year, the Balloon Fiesta hosts the Cindy Petrehn Memorial Photo Contest. There’s a grand prize winner, children’s winners, a digital art winner, and winners for various events throughout the Balloon Fiesta.
This is a fun way for attendees to share their talents or just share the glee on their children’s faces.
Keep in Mind: What Happened to the Musical Highway? Let’s find out!
Ballooning Information
It’s important to know that the balloons don’t lift off throughout the day. There are certain times when there are launches. For example, there’s always a Dawn Patrol Show at sunrise and an AfterGlow Show at sunset (weather permitting).
During the day, there are other activities like chainsaw carving competitions and skydiving entertainment. Vendors are also there from sun up to sun down.
Transportation Services
If you want to avoid the traffic nightmare in Albuquerque every year, arrive at the park before sunrise or take the shuttle services. Traffic will always be problematic when thousands of people congregate in one location. You could also end up parking a long way away from the field.
The Park and Ride tickets mentioned earlier are a great option to avoid congestion. Although you have to pay a fee, it’s well worth the price. A Park and Ride ticket includes round-trip transportation to and from Balloon Fiesta Park, an expedited route to bypass heavy traffic, and admission to the Balloon Fiesta event.
You can catch a ride at Cottonwood Mall, Coronado Center, or Hoffmantown Church. Advanced ticket purchases are cheaper than day-of purchases and cost $22 per adult, $20 per senior, and $10 per child. Children 5 and under are free.
Tips for Attending the Balloon Festival in Albuquerque
Because so many visitors attend Balloon Festival Albuquerque, it’s important to follow these tips to make your visit enjoyable and comfortable.
This is not an event where you want to just “wing it.” Be prepared so you can make your plans early.
Book In Advance
As already mentioned, RV sites will sell out in January. There’s a waitlist, so make sure to join it if you don’t get a site on your first try. People will cancel throughout the year.
Remember, reservations begin in January, and the event isn’t until October. Things change. But for the best opportunity to get an RV site, be online on the day reservations open.
Keep in Mind: Is seeing Carlsbad Caverns Bats on your bucket list? If not, it will be after reading this article!
Watch From Afar as Well as Up Close
Make sure to spend one morning watching from your RV. The sight of the balloons soaring from afar is enchanting. Various colors and shapes fill the sky for a beautiful spectacle. But also make sure to go to the launch field to see the balloons up close.
You can actually walk around the launch field and talk with the pilots. You can feel the heat of the flames when they get ready to launch. It’s a surreal experience.
Layer Your Clothes
In the mornings and evenings, it can be very cold. Temperatures in Albuquerque in October can range from the 30s and 40s to the 70s and 80s. Make sure to dress in layers. You’ll feel miserable if you don’t.
Grab the winter coat, gloves, scarf, and toboggan when you head out at 3:00 a.m. to catch the shuttle service. But wear additional layers underneath and shed the winter wear by lunchtime.
Join the Fun at the Balloon Festival in Albuquerque
The International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque is a worthy bucket list item. To witness hundreds of balloons launching into the dark sky is mesmerizing. The glow of fire against the depth of the sky creates a magical atmosphere unlike anywhere else.
So if you’ve never made plans to visit Albuquerque in October for the Balloon Fiesta, consider doing so. You won’t regret it!
Have you ever been one of the 80,000 guests at Balloon Fiesta Park?
A few years back we attended with some friends, it was the highlight of our trip out west. Just us and 400,000 of our friends. The balloons were fantastic, the early morning lift offs were a photographers dream. We spent 5 days there, visited some talented vendors, ate great food and visited the local museums. Highly recommended for anyone traveling that state in October.