Mass ascensions, when many hundreds of balloons lift off into the morning sky, are held on all four weekend mornings and one day mid-week. Mass ascensions begin after "dawn patrol" carefully examines the morning's weather conditions. When the dawn patrol gives the green light, balloons from all over the world rise together in a harmonious lift-off. The sight of 500 balloons in the sky is as breathtaking for first-time visitors as it continues to be for veteran Albuquerque hot air balloon festival attendees.