The city's dry climate is ideal for hot air ballooning, and so during the first week of October every year, thousands flock to Albuquerque to experience the International Balloon Fiesta. For a full week, the sky fills with almost 600 brightly colored balloons, which launch every morning from the 78-acre Balloon Fiesta Park in northern Albuquerque. Festival attendees witness the mass launch just before sunrise and the "Balloon Glows," during which the balloons are illuminated against the night sky.
Many recent visitors struggled to find the words to describe the magnificent sight of the balloons, calling the festival a bucket list experience. They also offer some essential tips for making the most of the festival. To start, travelers suggest taking advantage of the park and ride option to avoid the heavy traffic that usually surrounds this event. Visitors also advise getting there as early as you can (some got on the road or boarded their shuttle bus by 4:45 a.m.) to witness the early morning activities, such as the Dawn Patrol. Just remember to wear layers – travelers warn it's chilly in the morning and gets progressively warmer as the day goes on. If you're willing to spend a bit more coin, reviewers also recommend purchasing the Chasers' Club ticket option. For $45 per person, you'll receive admission to the festival, guaranteed seating in a private patio situated on the north end of Balloon Fiesta Park (a prime photo op location), beverages and a hot food item.
General admission for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta costs $10 per person; children 12 and younger can enter for free. The festival also offers a bundle of five general admission tickets for $45. Keep in mind, your ticket only grants you access to one session, meaning you'll be able to enjoy all the activities taking place in the morning and all of the activities scheduled for the evening. You can purchase tickets online or at 7-Eleven stores in Albuquerque, Los Lunas, Socorro, Moriarty, Mountainair and Rio Rancho. Parking costs $10 for each session; avoid the traffic congestion by taking advantage of the festival's organized park and ride option. The park opens at 4:30 a.m. for morning activities and again at 3:30 pm for the evening activities and is open until approximately 9 p.m. For more information, visit the festival website.