Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

You'll have a great time! We spent 10 days there last October. We volunteered to crew which was fun and an added perk was a free, long balloon ride. When you are on the main field in the morning, there will be a booth for obtaining volunteers. Consider it. It's very interesting to learn the ins and outs of ballooning and the owners really appreciate the help.

DO IT.

I was General Manager of the Chevy Dealership in Albuquerque in the late 1980's. Corporate jet pilot was a "balloonist". Several trips in the jet. Most memorable was ride with him in his balloon.

Again, DO IT.

If not on your "Bucket List", should be.

BTW, from a climate standpoint, this is the PERFECT time of year in Albuquerque.

We're coming in Friday to Enchanted Trails RV Park for nine days.

Looking forward to it.

I hope you have some kind of a reservation with your group. I have attended 7-8 of these but I dry camp as I can't afford camping anywhere close to the event (I am unable to plan ahead). Our best stay was on the grounds, dry camping, with a golf cart for the week. We had full access to all the events and we could easily come and go as we pleased. We had reserved the Presidential camp grounds for 2005 the day after the event ended in 2004 (you need that much lead time). Then Katrina hit and our business pulled us away. It is one of the biggest disappoints we have experienced during our 17 years of full-timing but I hope that someday I will be given that opportunity again.
This is THE EVENT of the Fall and if you have never been to one before, be prepared to get up VERY early (dawn patrol), hang around for all of the daily events, enjoy the fireworks and then wonder how in the World you are not going to do this again next year!
Have fun!

I'm going also. Our first time. Staying on the grounds.

Hi Ray, my health won't allow it my doctor says no. Had lunch with another retiree from my old job today and he's packing up and headed down that way. Sounds like fun to me!

Yeah, we're here at the event. I posted our day one experience http://www.flyingthekoop.com/2015/10/03/day-one-albuquerque-balloon-fiesta/here.

Koop: Nice write-up on crewing for a balloon....brought back good memories of our time doing it. Have a good week!

Today the 6th of october was simply awesome . There was baloons all over the area. Some flying right over the coaches where we wert parked. Lot of rvers traveling to their winter destinations are stopping to watch the balloon fiesta.