Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta -2015

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the largest balloon event in the world. Held each year during the first week in October, the Balloon Fiesta attracts almost 600 balloons and 1000 pilots. In its first year, 1972, 13 balloons gathered in the parking lot of the Coronado Center Mall in Albuquerque. The following year, 13 countries took part in the "First World Hot Air Balloon Championship", the world's largest ballooning event, held at the New Mexico State Fairgrounds. By 1978 Albuquerque was playing host to 273 entries. The number of balloons steadily increased, with 600 in 1988 and 903 balloons in 1999. The organizers of the Balloon Fiesta registered over 1000 balloons in the year 2000.

In 1972 there were about 10,000 guests that viewed the first Balloon Fiesta. Hundreds of thousands of guests visit Balloon Fiesta each year, and hundreds of thousands more fans watch the balloons from outlying areas and on TV. In order to accommodate the increases in balloons and guests, the Balloon Fiesta’s home field has grown from a corner in a mall parking lot, to its present home, a permanent site which is more than 350 acres.

The event consists of the spectacular Mass Ascensions, as well as the Balloon Glow, the Night Magic Glow™, and the Special Shape Rodeo™. It is estimated that more than 25 million still photographs are taken of the Balloon Fiesta, repeatedly earning it the title “the world’s most photographed event.”

These photographs represent a small fraction of those 25 million !!!

These galleries contain albums of many of the balloons, an aer1al Sky Racer show by the French company (located near Tours, France), Parabatix, and the fireworks shows held during the evening.

Have a look around. Add some to your collection!