Skip to content

Top Navigation

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Trip Inspiration
  • Travel Guides
  • World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises
  • Travel Tips
  • News
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Explore

    Explore

    • World's Best

      The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Read More Next
    • The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2021

      Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2021. Read More Next
    • Let's Go Together Podcast

      Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! Hosted by Kellee Edwards. Read More Next
  • Trip Inspiration

    Trip Inspiration

    • Trip Ideas
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Spring Travel
    • Summer Travel
    • Fall Travel
    • Winter Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Luxury Travel
    • Beach Vacations
    • Adventure Travel
    • Road Trips
    • Family Travel
    • National Parks
    • Holiday Travel
    • Travel Photography
    • Photo of the Day
    • Culture and Design
    • Travel Deals
    • Attractions
    • Amusement Parks
    • Festivals and Events
    • Bus and Trains
    • Flight Deals
    • Budget Travel
    • Hotels and Resorts
    • Disney Vacations
    • Airlines and Airports
    • Ground Transportation
    • BookTandL.com
  • Travel Guides
  • World's Best

    World's Best

    • Top Hotels
    • Top Cities
    • Top Islands
    • Domestic Airlines
    • International Airlines
    • Tours
    • Safaris
    • All World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises

    Cruises

    • Find A Cruise
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • River Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • All-Inclusive Cruises
    • Family Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • See All Cruise Vacations
  • Travel Tips

    Travel Tips

    • Travel Trends
    • Packing Tips
    • Points + Miles
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
    • Weather
    • Mobile Apps
    • See All Travel Tips
  • News

    News

    • Wellness
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Animals
    • Jobs
    • Offbeat
    • See All News
  • Food + Drink

    Food + Drink

    • Restaurants
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Celebrity Chefs
    • Cooking + Entertaining
    • Food Fairs + Festivals
    • World's Best Restaurants
    • See All Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories

    Travel Accessories

    • Travel Bags
    • Shoes
    • Travel Tech
    • Shopping
    • Style
    • Gift Guides
    • See All Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Culture + Design
  3. In Photos: Stunning Scenes from Albuquerque's 2015 Hot-Air Balloon Fiesta

In Photos: Stunning Scenes from Albuquerque's 2015 Hot-Air Balloon Fiesta

By Erika Owen
October 07, 2015
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Corbis
There's still time to take in the sights at Albuquerque's annual Hot-Air Balloon Fiesta—the event takes place through October 11th. If you're not going to make it out for the events, we've got the next best thing: a curation of photos from the first few days of the festival. From the daily balloon take-offs to the chainsaw carving competitions, you never know what you're going to run into on the event grounds—you may even end up helping a pilot inflate his balloon for the evening Glowdeo. No matter what you're there for, the view is unreal: within minutes, the sky fills with colorful balloons, just barely blocking out the sunset for a spectacle that is truly one-of-a-kind.

Erika Owen is the Audience Engagement Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @erikaraeowen.
Start Slideshow

1 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Balloons at Sunset

Credit: Corbis

More than 500 balloons registered for the festival's 44th year. The first event was held in 1972 with 13 balloons participating.

1 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Daily Acension

Credit: Corbis

Each day of the nine-day festival features a morning balloon acension, which is where the real spectator sport comes into play. Given the event's spectacular safety record, this is one of the only balloon festivals where festival goers are allowed to walk among the balloons and converse with pilots and riders.

2 of 10

3 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Flying in 'The Box'

Credit: Anadolu Agency

The 72-acre space that hosts the daily ascensions is partly bordered by mountains. The weather pattern in that area is known locally as "the box." At its prime, lower winds blow south and higher winds blow—this makes it easy for navigators to change directions while floating through the sky.

3 of 10

Advertisement

4 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Spectator Sport

Credit: Anadolu Agency

Tens of thousands of spectators flock to New Mexico to take in the sights every year. The festival is much more than floating balloons—visitors can also take in chainsaw carving competitions, laser light shows, fireworks, and more.

4 of 10

5 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Balloon Themes

Credit: Lou Novick

Similar patterns are far and few between at the Hot-Air Balloon Fiesta and each year seems to bring a new level of creativity. Some clever balloons we've seen so far: Darth Vader, a flying pig, and Sonic the Hedgehog.

5 of 10

6 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Balloon Chase Crews

Credit: Anadolu Agency

There are entire teams dedicated to chasing down balloons that get caught in a wind current. These groups are aptly called Balloon Chase Crews.

6 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Shape Rodeos

Credit: Anadolu Agency

Themed balloons are celebrated every year at a number of different shape rodeos. Previous balloon shapes include an Angry Bird, and old lady in a shoe, Uncle Sam, and orca whale, Sonic the Hedgehog, and more. You can check out a history of balloon shapes here.

7 of 10

8 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

A Worldwide Event

Credit: Anadolu Agency

Balloon pilots come from around the world to pay homage to this sport. This year, more than 20 countries are represented at this year's Fiesta, from France to Ireland.

8 of 10

9 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Balloon Glows

Credit: Corbis

Balloon Glows are when pilots light up their burners at the same time, resulting in an entirely unique light show. This tradition started abck in 1979 when local pilots set off glowing balloons on Christmas Eve. Now, it's one of the Fiesta's most attended happenings.

9 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Audience Engagement

Credit: Corbis

Many times, pilots will look to the wandering spectators for help inflating their rides. You never know what you're going to come across while weaving between the balloons.

10 of 10

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Erika Owen

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 10 Balloons at Sunset
2 of 10 Daily Acension
3 of 10 Flying in 'The Box'
4 of 10 Spectator Sport
5 of 10 Balloon Themes
6 of 10 Balloon Chase Crews
7 of 10 Shape Rodeos
8 of 10 A Worldwide Event
9 of 10 Balloon Glows
10 of 10 Audience Engagement

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap
  • Travel Guide Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Other Travel + Leisure Sites
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
Travel + Leisure is part of the Travel + Leisure Group. Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Travel + Leisure is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel + Leisure Group All Rights Reserved, registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.travelandleisure.com

View image

In Photos: Stunning Scenes from Albuquerque's 2015 Hot-Air Balloon Fiesta
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.