The International Hot Air Balloon Festival: Albuquerque, New Mexico 🎈

Holy shit. (Pardon my French… actually, not really.) If you know me, you know that i swear. We were excited for this stop, but had no idea what was waiting for us. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta had been on our bucket list since the day we started planning this trip — and it completely exceeded every expectation.

I’m honestly not sure where to start or how I’ll ever sort through the 100,000 pictures and videos we took in just a few days, but I’ll try. Strap in, because this story might just convince you to tag along with us next year.

Festival Fast Facts ✨

1. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta began in 1972 with only 13 balloons — today it features over 500 from around the world.

2. It’s the largest hot-air-balloon event in the world, drawing about 900,000 visitors each year.

3. Albuquerque’s cool mornings and low winds create a rare weather pattern called the “Albuquerque Box,” which lets balloons drift one direction and return on a different current.

4. The festival runs nine days every October and includes both morning ascensions and evening “glow” events.

5. Balloons come from over 20 countries, and many have unique shapes — everything from dinosaurs to Darth Vader.

6. The event contributes more than $180 million annually to New Mexico’s economy and is one of the most photographed festivals on earth.

Where We Stayed

It was a five-hour drive from Colorado Springs to Albuquerque. We stayed at the KOA Albuquerque, about 23 minutes from Balloon Fiesta Field. The campground was clean, secure, and full of amenities — pool, hot tub, jump pad, dog area — basically everything we’ve come to expect at this point in our travels.

Pro Tip: There are campsites right on the festival grounds, but they book up the second registration opens. Even trying a year out, we couldn’t snag one!

Day 1 – Mass Ascension Magic

We bought Park & Ride tickets online (highly recommend — traffic is chaos otherwise). The tickets include admission and shuttle service to the grounds. Our slot was for 4 a.m. Sunday, which meant a 2:30 a.m. alarm and bleary-eyed kids.

By 4 a.m., the parking-lot line looked insane, but they had the system down — we were on the bus in minutes and headed to the field.

When you arrive, you can head straight to the launch field or wander the food stands and gift shops. We went straight to the field — our plan was to shop later in the week when crowds died down.

The festival starts off with a line of hot air balloons that go up to give the green light for the mass ascension. If they say its good, its show time.

And then… the Mass Ascension.

Life-changing. Awe-inspiring. Stupid-beautiful.Five hundred balloons lifting at sunrise, surrounded by thousands of people gasping and cheering. It’s impossible to put into words.

Our favorites were the VW Bus, POW/MIA, Baby T-Rex, Yoda, and Darth Vader — who’s retiring after this year (we got lucky!).

We also learned that every balloon has its own collector card, and pin trading is a big deal. We may or may not have dropped $200 on pins and lanyards. 😅

Festival Hours: Morning Session 5:30 a.m.–noon • Evening Session 3 p.m.–9 p.m.

Monday Night – Globito Glow

We checked out Globito Glow in the Village of Los Ranchos — a smaller community event where mini-balloons light up the street alongside food and craft vendors. It was laid-back and charming, and our favorite balloon was the glowing Jack-o’-lantern. 🎃

Tuesday Night – Old Town Exploring

We spent the evening wandering Old Town Albuquerque on historic Route 66. Yes, it’s touristy, but it’s filled with gift shops, handmade jewelry, and some amazing local restaurants.

Wednesday Morning – Becoming a Chase Crew

No Park & Rides mid-week, so we drove ourselves — out the door by 3 a.m. and practically no traffic. On our walk to the field, a man held up a sign looking for volunteers for chase crews.

“What’s a chase crew?” we asked.

Turns out, every balloon has a ground team that helps unpack, inflate, launch, and recover the balloon — and they were short-staffed.

We figured, why not? And just like that, we were officially part of the Baby T-Rex balloon crew under pilot Rex. Within minutes, we were unloading gear, learning the ropes (literally), and helping bring that giant dinosaur to life.

By the time we deflated and packed everything away, we were sweaty, sore, and hooked. Our kids were over the moon — chatting with pilots from across the world, even getting a mini history lesson from one who’d flown in from Australia.

We started helping the Golden Corral balloon next to us too, which had ripped fabric from a rough landing the day before. Everyone jumped in to help patch it up — another amazing team of people.

By the end of the morning, we weren’t just spectators anymore. We were part of something.

Mid-Week Surprises & New Friendships

That same day, I got a message from my closest college friend, someone I hadn’t seen in 16 years. She lived only an hour away. We met up that evening for dinner and tapas, and it felt like no time had passed. I left feeling humbled, happy, and grateful — this trip gave me a second chance at a friendship I thought I’d lost.

Thursday – Crew Life in Full Swing

Another 3 a.m. alarm, but this time we had field passes and could park right on-site. Goodbye, traffic!

The morning was perfect — no wind, clear skies, a breathtaking sunrise. The Baby T-Rex balloon was ready to fly again, arms and tail included, which made setup a little more complex than a traditional balloon.

Pro Tip: The more unusual the balloon shape, the bigger the crew it takes to fly — it’s truly a team effort!

We came back for the night session, but it was rained out almost immediately. Still, spirits were high — we’d officially caught the ballooning bug.

Friday – Special Shapes Rodeo & Kids Day

Friday morning was the big one: Special Shapes Rodeo! Over 100 creatively shaped balloons launched together — cows, castles, penguins, and dragons. The Golden Corral crew joined us again since they weren’t flying that day.

Our kids decided to wear their Halloween costumes and hand out our balloon cards to other kids. They were posing for pictures like mini-celebrities.

That evening, we finally got to experience the Balloon Glow — when hundreds of balloons inflate at dusk but don’t take off. Instead, they flicker in unison to music, lighting up the night sky. I’ll admit it — I cried more than once. It’s surreal, peaceful, and somehow electric all at once.

Saying Goodbye & Looking Ahead

Saturday’s winds grounded flights, so Friday night ended up being our last shift. Saying goodbye to our new crew was surprisingly emotional. In just a few days, strangers had become close friends — people from all walks of life connected by this wild, beautiful hobby.

The admiration they showed us for traveling with our kids and living differently hit me right in the heart. It was exactly the encouragement I didn’t know I needed. The weeks leading up to this had been emotionally rough — four months on the road, homeschooling adjustments, and missing home — but this reminded me why we started.

Before we left, I asked Rex if he needed a crew next year. He immediately said yes. So… we’re officially booked to come back. 🎈

This marks the beginning of a new yearly adventure for us — and hopefully, some of you will join. (Consider this your sign to message me if you’re interested 😉

Next stop: Zion National Park for three weeks.We’re leaving Albuquerque with full hearts, new friends, and a reminder that sometimes the best parts of life are the ones you never planned.

We had a 2 day layover on the way to Zion in Page, AZ. We were able to visit horseshoe bend and wanted to paddleboard lower antelope canyon but unfortunately, the winds closed the canyon that day.