Balloon Rides, Special Shapes, & Twilight Glow
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Location: Albuquerque, NM
The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is an annual hot air balloon festival featuring hundreds of balloons taking flight every October.
This 9-day event is the largest ballooning event on earth with over 500 balloons. It’s also the most photographed event in the world, and the largest annual international event held in the United States.
The custom-designed, 365-acre Balloon Fiesta Park contains a 78-acre launch field (imagine 54 football fields, all put together). With no viewing stands, guests simply walk the field and are immediately part of the action!
This adventure was part of our RV Vacation Across America.
- Experience 100%
- Food 50%
- Cost 90%
- Activities 75%
If you truly want to be par tof the action, grab a ticket to ride in a balloon during Mass Ascension! Offered exclusively through Rainbow Ryders, it’s difficult to put into words how incredible this experience is. You’ll just have to watch the video below …
Trip Video
We managed to squeeze 3 days of awesomeness into a 5-minute action-packed video!
Best Activities
1. Mass Ascension
Ride along as 500+ balloons launch from Balloon Fiesta Park over a 2 hours period.
2. Twilight Glow
The sight of balloons lit from within at night like giant holiday ornaments is the most spectacular single moment in all of Balloon Fiesta.
3. Special Shapes Rodeo
See 100+ balloons shaped like anything you can imagine: a giant sneaker, a cow, Yoda, a barn scene. You never know what will be inflating next!
Day 1
Morning Session:
- Dawn Patrol
- Mass Ascension
Evening Session:
- America’s Challenge
- Twilight Glow
Capped off with mariachi band and fireworks
Day 2
Evening Session:
- Special Shapes Rodeo
- Twilight Glow
Lots of time to taste the food, stock up on souvenirs, and exerience the live entertainment
Day 3
Morning Session:
- Dawn Patrol
- Special Shapes Rodeo
- Balloon Pilot Competition
Squeezed out every drop of excitement before hitting the road
Recent Travels
If you’ve enjoyed hearing about this experience check out the rest of our RV Adventure HERE, or discover even more below…
Our Incredible Experience Driving Through Redwood National Park
Duration: 1 day Location: Humboldt County, CAThe Redwood National Forest is located in Humboldt County, Northern California, and is made up of several State and National Parks, totaling 51,222 acres. There are plenty of places to hike and explore, but our main...
Chasing Napoleon at Château de Fontainebleau
Château de Fontainebleau is a popular day excursion from Paris located 55km southeast of the city. Take a glimpse into the lives of Napoleon I and Marie Antoinette as you tour the 1500 room castle.
Visiting the 4 Types of Paris Christmas Markets
Visiting the 4 Types of Paris Christmas MarketsParis Christmas Markets are an amazing feast for the eyes, and something that should be on everyone's bucket list. They's found throughout the city, each featuring something pecial that makes them unqiue from all the...
The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Experience looks like it would be so much fun! I’ve always wanted to go in a hot air balloon, and it would be such an incredible experience!
This sounds like a wonderful event to attend – would especially like to see the balloons in the evening. Maybe I can work up enough nerve to take a ride in one!
This event sounds delightful! The evening balloon display is particularly appealing. Perhaps I’ll have the courage to take a ride!
I’ve been to quite a few balloon shows in California, and even gone up in a few times. These are fun places to go. Thanks for the tour.
They used to do this once a year in Michigan. I miss it. It’s a sight to see when all of the balloons are in the air.
I wish there was a hot-air balloon display in Scotland. It would be so amazing to see.
You sure captured some amazing photos. I have never been to a ballon festival but it looks like a lot of fun.
I have never been to that event and the festival sounds so amazing and a lot of fun!