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The experience of attending Balloon Fiesta
Royale Da
Anchor
The experience of attending Balloon Fiesta
BALLOON FIESTA FROM SUNRISE TO. TAKE A LOOK BEFORE THE SUN RISES. IT’S BUSY AS EVERYONE ARRIVES FOR THE SHOW. PARKING IS USUALLY A SLOW GOING PROCESS. SOME WALK IN. OTHERS RIDE THEIR BIKES. AND ONCE THEY GET THROUGH THE GATES, PEOPLE GRAB HOT COFFEE, BREAKFAST BURRITOS AND, DONUTS. THEN DON PATROL HEADS UP FIRST TO MAKE SURE THE CONDITIONS ARE JUST RIGHT. IT’S A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT. THESE ARE THE MOST EXPERIENCED PILOTS. THEIR EXPERTISE IS VITAL. BECAUSE THEY WILL DECIDE IF IT’S SAFE FOR HUNDREDS OF PILOTS TO LAUNCH. IF IT’S A GO, THE PILOTS PULL THEIR BASKETS FROM THEIR TRUCK, LAY OUT THEIR BALLOON OR ENVELOPE AND START UP THOSE BURNERS. THE SOUND FILLS THE FIELD. BUILDING EXCITEMENT FOR ONLOOKERS. THEY KNOW A MASS ASCENSION IS GOING TO HAPPEN AS THE SUN STARTS TO ARRIVE. HUNDREDS OF PILOTS FILL, THE NEW MEXICO SKY. OR TAKE A QUICK DIP CALLED A SPLASH AND DASH IN THE RIO GRANDE. THEY ONLY STAY AIRBORNE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, BUT THE SIGHT IS SPECTACLE AS THEY GENTLY DRIFT BACK TO THE GROUND. CHASE CREWS HELP CONTROL THEIR LANDING. BUT THE FUN FOR SPECTATORS ISN’T OVER. GREAT FOOD IN TOWN AND EVEN SOME SHOPPING AWAITS THEM. THEN MAYBE AFTER A NAP THEY’LL HEAD TO BALLOON FIESTA PARK FOR FOR THE GLOW. THIS TIME, THE PILOTS WON’T LAUNCH INTO THE AIR, BUT THEY’LL INFLATE ONCE THE SUN SETS. AND THE GLOW IS GORGEOUS. HERE’S AN AERIAL LOOK AT THE EVENT. THE BURNERS GOING ON AND OFF. AS EVERYONE MARVELS AT THE SIGHT FOR BALLOON FIESTA SUPERFANS, THEY’LL EVENTUALLY GO HOM
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The experience of attending Balloon Fiesta
Royale Da
Anchor
Visiting and attending Balloon Fiesta can be a big task.The day usually gets started early — very early.Traffic tends to be slow getting into the park, and parking can fill up quickly.But once you're in the park, you're greeted by thousands of others attending as well as the smell and aroma of food and coffee.After many have grabbed their breakfast of choice, visitors prepare for dawn patrol to inflate and take to the sky. Dawn patrol lets other balloonists know which way the winds are blowing and the weather conditions at flight level. Dawn patrol is critical in letting other pilots know if it is safe to fly or not.If the green flag rises, balloonists begin to lay out their envelopes to begin inflating. That's when the thousands on Main Street file into the field to take in the balloons up close.Everyone on the field gets to see balloons inflate. As the balloon inflates, balloon crews help educate spectators about different parts of the balloon.Once balloons rise into the New Mexico morning sky, some make a quick "splash and dash" in the Rio Grande.Once balloons have landed, many people leave the park, only to return for the night events of the Glowdeo.Pilots won't launch into the air for the Glowdeo, but they will inflate their balloons in a static on-ground display.

Visiting and attending Balloon Fiesta can be a big task.

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The day usually gets started early — very early.

Traffic tends to be slow getting into the park, and parking can fill up quickly.

But once you're in the park, you're greeted by thousands of others attending as well as the smell and aroma of food and coffee.

After many have grabbed their breakfast of choice, visitors prepare for dawn patrol to inflate and take to the sky. Dawn patrol lets other balloonists know which way the winds are blowing and the weather conditions at flight level. Dawn patrol is critical in letting other pilots know if it is safe to fly or not.

If the green flag rises, balloonists begin to lay out their envelopes to begin inflating. That's when the thousands on Main Street file into the field to take in the balloons up close.

Everyone on the field gets to see balloons inflate. As the balloon inflates, balloon crews help educate spectators about different parts of the balloon.

Once balloons rise into the New Mexico morning sky, some make a quick "splash and dash" in the Rio Grande.

Once balloons have landed, many people leave the park, only to return for the night events of the Glowdeo.

Pilots won't launch into the air for the Glowdeo, but they will inflate their balloons in a static on-ground display.