ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA 50th

 

 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 50th

Yes, this year is the 50th year for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (AIBF). Yes, we are very excited as it will be a very very big event. Yes, bigger than years past. 

There will be about 650 hot air balloons, 120 of which will be special shapes. There will be flying competitions, mass ascensions, special shapes, balloon glows, dawn patrols and that is just the hot air balloons. 

This year will also be the 25th year for the America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race. 

There will be fireworks, skydivers, chainsaw carving, car shows, entertainment etc etc etc.

Yes, I will be part of the AIBF Official Event Photo Team. This means long days of taking the photos, editing, submitting etc etc. My days will start about 0430 and end at 2200 ish. Hence my time to write the blog is basically non existent during the event. 

Maybe a bit of AIBF History is in order. 

From a small gathering of 13 balloons in 1972, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has grown to become the largest balloon event in the world. Held each year during the first week in October, the Balloon Fiesta now features about 600 balloons and 700 pilots.

The first gathering of 13 balloons in 1972 was held in the parking lot of 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 more than 1000 balloons in the year 2000. Due to shrinking landing site availability, the number of hot air balloons is now limited.

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 2017, fans around the world can now watch the event online via Balloon Fiesta Live!, a professionally-produced live stream, with expert commentary, of all the flying events. 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 that is more than 350 acres.

I should add that over the years AIBF has added enhancements to the event, glows and fireworks and more. 

If you have AIBF as a bucket list event start planning a year in advance. The Best place to start is with the AIBF website: https://balloonfiesta.com/