Albuquerque Baloon Festival

[akrvbob]

I'm considering going to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival October 4 to 12 and I am looking for feedback from those who have been there before or know about camping in or around ALBQRE.

If you've been there before, would you be willing to cut and paste this and answer all the questions you can?

1) Is it worth doing? It's just a bunch of balloons?!!

2) Where can I camp? Walmart; nearby NF or BLM land; pay to stay at the main arena?

3) When should I go, first or second weekend? I'm thinking of going the second weekend for smaller crowds.

4) Where else should I go north of Albuquerque? I'm headed north after the festival.

5) How good are the fireworks at night?

6) Where is the best place to photograph the balloons and fireworks?

Does anyone want to join me if I go? My tentative plans afterwards are Moab, Zion NP and then Toroweep in Grand Canyon.

For more info on the Balloon Festival, go here:
http://www.balloonfiesta.com/

Bob

 

[Patrick46]

Ooooo....I've always wanted to go to this too. Jealous that you getta go first!!


take lotsa pics for us Boss!!!

 

[compassrose]

Chances are the campgrounds are already booked for the Balloons. When we lived in Socorro, we did have a few have to stay as far away as Socorro (about 75 miles from the Balloon Park). We really enjoyed Bandolier National Monument(north of ABQ) although we only daytripped there from Socorro. We did not stay in the campground.

 

[Stargazer]

Bob,

I went for the first three days in 2008. It was my first trip in the MH, my first trip out by myself, while still in the sticks n bricks.

1. Is it worth it? How much do you enjoy being a spectator in large crowds, often from afar?

2. I was in a 35' class A. The night before it opened, I stayed at a KOA and filled tanks, dumped, did laundry, showered. Next morning, I went to the fiesta sight where I had previously made reservations. It was rally-style dry camping. Horrible! Think WalMart parking lot, if they were giving away everything in the store, only twenty times bigger, at least. Long walk to the launch area. If you camp elsewhere (off site), be prepared for long waits in traffic to get there! L-o-n-g waits... Sorry, am not familiar with NF/BLM in that area but I would bet they'd be crowded also.

3. Where else? I can't say. When I left, I couldn't wait to just get out of there so drove as far and fast as I could.

4. No fireworks...thunder storms...which also delayed launches and everything else. Many MH's had to be towed out, stuck in the sand in the on-site camping area.

5. I'm not much of a photographer so I can't advise on this.

6. No thank you. Once was enough.

My experience wasn't great. Too crowded (and I do mean crowded), it rained most of the time I was there, and it was expensive. If you like that kind of thing, it'd be fun. Perhaps if the weather had been better, I could have hired a ride in one, which would've been worth it.

Best wishes.

 

[Sameer]

When I lived in Carlsbad, I went five years in a row. It was magical and the food booths are fantastic..Red or Green! Very crowded as it is an International Event but worth the time and effort. I would drive up and park at one of the casinos and sleep in my pickup, I had my little ranch at the time, Then you have to get up early and head to the park...I am talking very early in the morning for parking....Expensive, but the event is worth it! The weather dictates what will take place. My favorite part of Balloon Fiesta is the 'Special Shapes'. Take lots of pictures!

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I hate crowds, so I would not want to go to the festival itself.

But you've got me wondering. Once the balloons are launched, where do they land? How far do they travel? Does the wind usually blow from one particular direction at that time of the year?

If the goal is pictures, perhaps you could find a nice place to park along the balloons flyway, get great shots, and avoid the crowds.

I'd get out your Delormes Gazzette and start searching on Google Earth.

Regards
John

 

[Stargazer]

ROFL! And now you have both sides of the story

Different strokes and all that jazz.

 

[Patrick46]

John has a great idea!!

Find a nice quiet spot along the route, and watch 'em float over. Maybe enjoy a glass of wine while you're at it!!

 

[compassrose]

Basically the balloons go straight up early in the morning and then they drop straight back down. I think there is a few small controlled flight events. We thought of going but couldn't get close enough. We have been told to take the shuttles.

http://www.balloonfiesta.com/
Park & Ride http://www.balloonfiesta.com/guest-guide/park-ride

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Basically the balloons go straight up early in the morning and then they drop straight back down. I think there is a few small controlled flight events. We thought of going but couldn't get close enough. We have been told to take the shuttles.

That's odd. We have a small balloon festival in Poughkeepsie every July, ( 8 to 12 balloons show up) and they definitely don't land from where they launch. Most come down 10 to 20 miles away, I believe.

Regards
John

 

[akrvbob]

I definitely planned to take the Rebel. There is still open space at the fairgrounds so I could camp there.

I'm not a crowds person so I'm not at all sure it's worth doing to me. I have more plans for later this winter so I may just save my gas money for those trips I really want t take. I've got to set my priorities!
Bob

 

[LeeRevell]

We have some interesting local events down here too, but the huge crowds, distant parking and heavy traffic really put me off. One event changed to a larger location for more parking - but that just fills up as quick! Takes the fun right out of it. And, as I have aged my health has gotten worse, so those long walks are NOT gonna fly!
Last time I attended the "Rattle Snake Roundup" in Whigham, Georgia (only some 60 miles from home), it literally took me longer to get my car out of the parking lot than it took to drive home! CRAZY!!

 

[PJgal]

Bob,

I just wanted to weigh in because I have lived in New Mexico 15 years, and have only last year attended the Balloon Fiesta. I considered it a "once in a lifetime" event for me. Well worth it ONCE to stand on the launch field, and experience the wonder of the balloons rising up all around me as the sun rose. Lovely open wonderful people, good food, color, color, color. There was an airstream convention or something going on (??) so it was easy to connect with like minded ppl.

The events take place at dawn, so the weather is cold, so dress for it. I got up at 3:30 to make it to the launch site on time. If conditions aren't perfect, and they often are not, the lift off is delayed or cancelled for the day, so it's easy to get skunked. The crowds are unbelievable. I stayed at a local motel and everyone must use the shuttle if you are not on site.

I was pretty overwhelmed after only 1 day. And I won't be doing it again. The people I attended with, to a person, would go again this year if they could! So definitely a case of ymmv....

PJ

 

[compassrose]

That's odd. We have a small balloon festival in Poughkeepsie every July, ( 8 to 12 balloons show up) and they definitely don't land from where they launch. Most come down 10 to 20 miles away, I believe.

Regards
John

That's what we thought too!

We lived in Socorro for a few year and drove to ABQ to do the shopping for our food cart and work an onsite auction once or twice a month in the Rio Rancho Area.

What we found is that you need to be up at daybreak to see balloons in the air. Best thing is to find a high up vantage point to see the ballons all over the valley. Not all are in the park. They are scattered all over the valley and they litterally rise up and drop down while the air is very still, every morning. If the air is not still, they are grounded.

I have a daughter in ABQ. I can ask her where is a good location to watch the lift off for free if you want.

 

[compassrose]

Hope this helps. From my Daughter who lives in ABQ:

Actually, ANYWHERE is a good place. I loved watching the Balloons when
I was working at the Sheraton Hotel by the airport; even though it's
on the other side of town you still get an amazing view of the
balloons.
The Balloon Park is way way up in the North West area of Albuquerque;
it'll take you at least 2 hours to get there in the early morning
traffic due to the... traffic. Most people leave around 3:30-4am to be
there in time to watch the balloons take off.
I like watching the balloons from afar; the same way I like my
fireworks. I like being on the roof of the Apothecary Lounge (rooftop
bar at The Parq Central Hotel). I don't know of anywhere closer that
you can actually view the take off other than the Balloon Park.

 

[akrvbob]

Thanks so much compassrose, and to your daughter as well! That is very helpful info!

If it's not too much of an imposition, can you ask her where is a good place to view/photograph the fireworks?
Bob

 

[compassrose]

Heard back from my daughter via e-mail. She send me pics but I'm not posting them. With a better camera than she had, it shouldn't be a problem. She is right, you can literally take balloon pics everywhere (please not while driving, although some do). As you come into the ABQ from the South on I-25 about daybreak, you start seeing them lifing off. look on one of the online mapping programs, find a big parking lot (like over on Renaissance which has Home Depot, Sams Club and Costco). It is fairly close to the park and we have gotten some nice views (no buildings) of the balloons. I do not know about if any of them (except Sams) will allow overnight parking. Things get a little hairy in ABQ during the festival. A lot of people pour into ABQ for the event.

"Anywhere. I mean, literally anywhere.
These pictures that I'm including where taken from the new office
downtown. The one with the multiple balloons were regular zoom. The
one with the single Balloon was zoomed in; they were taken with my
camera phone.
These were taken on the third floor of the Business Offices; the same
building that Tucanos is in, and looking over a parking lot to the
north.
A high elevation point is best to take pictures from, at least that's
what I like. Otherwise you get buildings in the way."

 

[akrvbob]

Thanks so much for that information Compassrose!! But I was actually asking about the fireworks. One of the reasons I would like to go is to take some photos of the fireworks but because I don't know where they are I don't know the best place to go and see them.

Can I impose on you and your daughter one more time?
Bob

 

[compassrose]

If you can see the balloons, then you can see the fireworks. We didn't know about the fireworks our first year and was surprised by having a nice view of them from the Sam's Club parking lot on Renaisance.

 

[akrvbob]

Great, thanks so much!
Bob