I have always wanted to go to New Mexico to see the hot air balloons fill the sky. My wish came true on October 10, 2017. Coca-Cola happen to be sponsoring this day during the fiesta. The thing is though, in order to see the morning glow of the balloons, you have to wake up extremely early. Therefore, my day began at 2:45am which allowed me plenty of time to arrive to the fiesta parking lot by their opening time of 4:30am. With coffee in hand, I walked down to the balloon grounds, found a good spot, and awaited the 5:45am Laser Light Show. Next up was the 6am Dawn Patrol followed by the 7am Balloon Launch. It was all so magically beautiful and cold. The temperature  was around 34°F.

The festival this year ran from Saturday, October 7 to Sunday, October 15. During the week, Monday – Thursday, there are only morning sessions. The evening sessions run from 1:30pm until the closing AfterGlow Fireworks Show at 8pm.

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a world-renowned attraction and destination for kids of all ages. There’s something for everyone to enjoy. One gets to experience whimsical special shapes filled with equal parts of hot air and wonder, and Balloon Glows that create a magical landscape for spectators to wander through.