Top ten tips for the balloon fiesta
I'm Lisa with Swifty Travels and I actually live in Albuquerque so I've been able to
enjoy the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta for many, many years and in this video
I want to give you 10 tips what you need to know if you plan on attending the balloon fiesta.
Albuquerque hosts the International Balloon Fiesta it is the largest
balloon gathering in the world and it's been taking place since 1972.
The event always occurs in the first full week of october where both weekends land
in the month of October. It is also known as the most photographed event in the world! It
is definitely something that you need to see! #1: leave early. I'm talking really early I recommend
you leave wherever you're staying between 4 30 and 5 a.m no later than 5 a.m.
Some people that come think you can leave around 6- 6 30. I guarantee you will be stuck in traffic
when the balloons start lifting up the ground as soon as the sun rises. #2: Dress warm. I'm talking
winter warm. First week in october it always freezes in Albuquerque and so even though later
in the day you could get very warm comfortable temperatures, it will be freezing around dawn when
you're at the balloon fiesta. Some people don't realize that this is the high desert this is not
low phoenix desert, hot desert ..this is high desert at 5000 feet so it is really really
cold in the morning and it is very cold out on balloon fiesta field so dress appropriately.
A lot of people bring blankets with them as well. #3 : Allow more than one day to attend.
Even though the weather in Albuquerque is just about perfect there always seems to be one or
two days during the balloon fiesta where we either get high winds or we get some rain and
the balloons are not able to lift off. You would hate to come all this way and be disappointed, so
allow a couple of days to be flexible in case the weather doesn't work out. #4: Download the app.
They have a balloon fiesta app. I do recommend you download that app for notifications so what you
will learn is when you're on balloon fiesta field there is a central station where they have a flag
hanging over the field and it will be red green or yellow and they wait for dawn patrol it's called
dawn patrol the first couple of balloons that go up in the air right before the sun rises and they
assess the weather and the flags the flag will show if it's a green if it's good for the balloons
to go up it's very weather dependent and so if you have the app you'll be able to tell if anything's
delayed due to weather. Save your ticket for entry if there's a weather delay or a rain delay or you
come down to the field and the balloons don't lift off they will allow you to reuse that ticket on
another day I have worked at the balloon fiesta in the past so I know how they do that they take
those barcode numbers on your ticket and they make them reusable for another day at the event
so hold on to that ticket don't throw it in the trash. Now for tip number six I'm out here at
balloon fiesta park and that is bring your walking shoes This is not a sit still event . You're gonna
have a long walk from the parking lot to the field and then you're gonna walk around the field during
the event as the balloons take off from all the different areas of the field you're going to want
to walk around from balloon to balloon so bring comfortable shoes plan on doing plenty of walking.
#7: Plan on attending the balloon glow the balloon glow is a beautiful event in the evening
the balloons don't lift up but they all stay on the ground and they all light up the balloons
in unison as the sun is setting it is absolutely gorgeous and they usually have fireworks display
afterwards. #8: Consider park and ride. The parking situation at the balloon fiesta and
the traffic situation can be quite difficult. There are three park and ride stations around town
they're this year they have it at coronado mall, cottonwood mall on the west side, and hoffmantown
church in the northeast heights . Now when you pay for a park and ride ticket you get admission to
the park as well and what you may not know is that the price to park is actually more than the price
to enter the park now if you buy a ticket in advance to park and ride it's $22
to get to the park and that includes admission to the park now if you wait to the last minute to buy
your parking rides can be a little bit expensive i think maybe $25 instead of $22. #9: Bring your
mask. I know there's a lot of controversy around this topic but in New Mexico the state has been
pretty strict with mask wearing. Now currently on the website it says that masks are optional
when you're outside but mass are required across the state for anywhere indoors and masks are also
required on the park and ride so I recommend just be prepared and bring your mask because the rules
can change at any time. Last year the balloon fiesta was actually canceled in 2020 that is
the first time i have ever heard of the balloon fiesta canceling since they started so without
knowing what's going to happen just be prepared and for #10 bring a little bit of spending
money they do have a nice area where you can walk along with lots of souvenir shops arts and crafts
they're pretty much intense and there are lots of breakfast options and if it's your first time in
new mexico be sure and try a breakfast burrito they will always ask you red or green those are
the types of new mexican chili i recommend to get both and new mexicans call that christmas.
A little bit of red and green on your burritos so you can try it both absolutely delicious make
sure during your stay that you try many of the fantastic new mexican restaurants around town
I plan to do more filming and more travel videos about this beautiful state of new mexico
if you have any questions or comments please leave them below i'll be glad to get back with you and i
hope you can subscribe to swifty travels. I try to do what I can to bring value to you to give
you information that you can use for your travels. Thanks so much for watching and have a great day!