Goodbye State Fair – hello Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta! I have a friend who used to be an engineer at the NBC affiliate in Albuquerque, KOBTV. She hated this time of year. First it was the State Fair, when for almost three weeks they would broadcast the morning and evening news from the fairgrounds. This meant early days and late nights, but was nothing compared to what came next.
Flying on the shirt tails of the New Mexico State Fair is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The Fair ended on September 26th and the Balloon Fiesta starts on Oct 2. Ouch for the news teams. The Balloon Fiesta required my friend to get up at 3 am to be at the balloon field at 4 am. As if this wasn’t enough, she also had to cover the evening events and on those nights the crew was lucky to get home by midnight. It was a grueling schedule. She hated the Balloon Fiesta. She called it the Balloon Fiasco.
Besides the weekend Mass Ascensions, the 2010 Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Schedule includes five evening Balloon Glows and a mid-week Mass Ascension, and a Special Shapes Rodeo on Thursday and Friday mornings. No matter what days you are here for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, there will be fantastic events to attend. Here is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Schedule for 2010.
Saturday October 2
Morning Session
5:45am – Dawn Patrol
6:30am – Krispy Kreme Morning Glow
6:45am – Opening Ceremonies
7:00am – Mass Ascension
8:00am – Echo Series Chainsaw Carving Championship (north end field)
Evening Session
5:45pm – Twilight Twinkle Glow™
8:00pm – AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show
Sunday October 3
Morning Session
5:45am – Dawn Patrol
6:30am – Krispy Kreme Morning Glow
6:45am – Mass Ascension
8:00am – Echo Series Chainsaw Carving Championship (north end field)
9:00am – Fiesta of Wheels Car Show
11:00am – Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading (Balloon Discovery Center)
Evening Session
5:00pm – Echo Series Chainsaw Carving Championship AUCTION & RAFFLE
5:45pm – Balloon Glow, presented by Dex One
8:00pm – AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show
Monday October 4
Morning Session – No Park N Ride Service Available
5:45am – Dawn Patrol
7:00am – Flying Competition, Balloon Fiesta Hold’em
Evening Session – No Events
Tuesday October 5 – No Park N Ride Service Available
Morning Session
5:45am – Dawn Patrol
7:00am – Flying Competition, Balloon Fiesta Hold’em
Afternoon Session
2:00pm – America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race Inflation
Evening Session
6:00pm – America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race Launch
Wednesday October 6 – No Park N Ride Service Available
Morning Session
5:45am – Dawn Patrol Show
6:30am – Krispy Kreme Morning Glow
6:45am – Flight of The Nations Mass Ascension
7:00am – Flying Competition
Evening Session – No Events
Thursday October 7
Morning Session
5:45am – Dawn Patrol
6:45am – Special Shapes Rodeo
7:00am – Flying Competition, Prize Grab
8:00am – ECHO Regional Chainsaw Carving, (north end of field)
Evening Session
5:45pm – Special Shape Glowdeo™
8:00pm – AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show
Friday October 8
Morning Session
5:45am – Dawn Patrol
6:45am – Special Shapes Rodeo
7:00am – Key Grab Competition
8:00am – ECHO Regional Chainsaw Carving, (north end of field)
Evening Session
5:45pm – Special Shape Glowdeo™
8:00pm – AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show
Saturday October 9
Morning Session
5:45am – Dawn Patrol
6:30am – Krispy Kreme Morning Glow
7:00am – Mass Ascension
8:00am – ECHO Regional Chainsaw Carving, (north end of field)
Evening Session
5:00pm – Echo Series Chainsaw Carving Championship AUCTION & RAFFLE
5:45pm – Night Magic Glow™
8:00pm – AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show
Sunday October 10
Morning Session
5:45am – Dawn Patrol
6:30am – Krispy Kreme Morning Glow
7:00am – Farewell Mass Ascension
This schedule and more info on all events may be found on the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta web site. If any events are canceled due to weather, be sure to check the Albuquerque Journal and local news stations for rescheduled dates and times.
Besides the events, concessions and booths at Balloon Fiesta Park, be sure to check out the Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival – the best in the Southwest. It is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during Balloon Fiesta. Here are the details:
22nd Annual Balloon Fiesta Show
October 1, 2, 3 & 8, 9, 10, 2010
Under the Big Tent at I-25 & Paseo del Norte
Albuquerque, New Mexico
I know the best things to do in Albuquerque!
Sarah Dolk, Adobe Nido Bed and Breakfast
Expert on Destination Albuquerque and Central New Mexico!
Tags: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival
please send me info concerning making a reservation to park an rv on the grounds of the balloon festival starting oct 2 2011 thank you patty saul
Hi Patty – I am not affiliated with the Balloon Fiesta so I can’t send you info, but here is the link to the RV Parking info:
http://www.balloonfiesta.com/guest-guide/rv-information