Everything you need to know for the 50th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

MORE PARKING THE CONCESSION TENTS PITCHED, THE FENCES ARE UP AND RUNWAY ON THE FIELD IS READY FOR NEW FAVORITE EVENT. WE HAVE 648 HOT AIR BALLOONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE FLYING WITH US ON SATURDAY MORNING. AND THAT’S ACTUALLY THE LARGEST NUMBER, HOT AIR BALLOONS THAT WE’VE HAD IN OVER A DECADE. PILOTS FROM DOZENS OF U.S. STATES AND 21 COUNTRIES WILL FILL OUR SKIES WITH ALL SHAPES AND SIZES. WE HAVE 120 SPECIAL SHAPES. NORMALLY, WE’RE ABOUT A HUNDRED. SO WE HAVE 20 BRAND NEW SPECIAL SHAPES THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN SEEN HERE BEFORE. ORGANIZERS ARE ANTICIPATING THIS TO BE BUSIER THAN EVER. SO THEY ADDED HUNDREDS OF NEW PARKING SPACES. WE ARE ON BALLOON FIESTA AND WHEN YOU’RE DRIVING INTO THE LOT OFF TO THE RIGHT, THERE’S A BRAND NEW PARKING LOT WITH AN ADDITIONAL HUNDRED SPACES AHEAD OF THE FUN. ORGANIZERS ARE STRESS SAFETY. THERE’S NOTHING LIKE LOOKING UP TO THE SKY AND ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL BALLOONS. AND SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, IT’S VERY EASY AN ADULT TO BE LOOKING UP AND THAT CHILD WALKS AWAY. NEW MEXICO POLICE ARE HANDLING TAG YOUR TOTS AND WILL BE AT THE NORTH AND SOUTH END OF THE PARK. THEY SAY IT’S SMART TO PUT IDENTIFY EARS ON THEIR WRISTS WITH YOUR PHONE NUMBER TAKING PHOTOS OF WHAT YOUR KIDS ARE WEARING HELPS TO LET YOUR CHILD KNOW THAT THOSE OF US THAT ARE IN BLACK AND WHITE UNIFORMS THAT THEY CAN COME TO US IF THEY’RE LOS. WE HAVE RADIOS. WE CAN TRANSMIT INFORMATION ABOUT THE LOST CHILD STAR SON KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS. IF YOU DON’T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE DRIVING THERE WILL BE THREE PARK AND RIDE OFFERINGS AT COTTONWOOD MALL, CORONADO CENTER AND HOFFMAN TOWN CHURCH. THERE WILL BE TWO SESSIONS OF PARK AND RIDE IN THE MORNING AND THEN TWO SESSIONS AT NIGHT. ORGANIZERS SAY THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO FIT 18,000 PEOPLE PE

The 50th Annual Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta begins on Oct. 1 and runs through Oct. 9. Organizers are planning a huge event to celebrate the big anniversary.Here's everything you need to know about this year’s Balloon Fiesta.Where is Balloon Fiesta?Balloon Fiesta Park is located west of I-25 between Alameda Blvd. and Roy Rd. For parking and how to get there, see the map below. How do I get there?If you want to drive, view the map below to see how to get to Balloon Fiesta Park.Traffic will be congested as you drive to Balloon Fiesta Park. You can check live traffic conditions around the park here.If you drive, parking is $20 for each session, and you must pay cash. Credit and debit cards are not accepted for parking.Balloon Fiesta Park and RideWith traffic expected to be extremely congested this year, Balloon Fiesta has park-and-ride options available.The following locations are serving as park and ride locations:Cottonwood Mall (10000 Coors Bypass NW)Park in the northeast parking lot near Seven Bar Loop and Coors Bypass NWCoronado Center (6600 Menaul Blvd NE)Park at the southwest corner near San Pedro Dr. and Uptown BlvdHoffmantown Church (8888 Harper Road NE)Park in the northeast parking lot onlyThe Intel park-and-ride lot will not be available this year. Admission to the Balloon Fiesta will be included in your park and ride ticket. All park and ride tickets must be purchased online and will not be available at the remote lots.You can reserve Park-and-ride tickets here >>Park-and-ride schedule for morning sessions:Buses run FROM remote lots TO Balloon Fiesta Park at 4 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.Inbound service ends at 7 a.m.Buses run FROM Balloon Fiesta Park TO remote lots from 8 a.m. to 11:30 for full-service return buses11:30 a.m. to noon: "Straggler" buses. Each "straggler" return bus will go to all locations.Park-and-ride schedule for evening sessions:Buses run FROM remote lots TO Balloon Fiesta Park at 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.Inbound service ends at 6:30 p.m.Buses run FROM Balloon Fiesta Park TO remote lots from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for FULL-SERVICE RETURN BUSES9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. "Straggler" buses. Each "straggler" return bus will go to all locationsThere will be no park-and-ride service on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.When should I get there?Balloon Fiesta officials encourage people to get to the park early, between 4 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., for weekend events, the gates open at 4:30 a.m.For evening events, people are encouraged to arrive at the park by 4 p.m., and gates open at 3 p.m.What events are happening at Balloon Fiesta?Here's a complete schedule of events happening at Balloon Fiesta this year. How do I purchase tickets?General admission to Balloon Fiesta is $15/person for anyone over the age of 12.You can purchase tickets in advance online here or in person at the Balloon Fiesta gift shop. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the gate during the fiesta.How will I know if Balloon Fiesta is canceled?Every morning of Balloon Fiesta, there is a pilot’s briefing where Balloon Fiesta officials determine if it is safe to fly based on weather conditions and wind speeds in the area. If things look good, they’ll raise a green flag, giving pilots the go-ahead to lift off.If things don’t look so good, organizers will raise a red flag, grounding balloons for the day. However, if the conditions are right, pilots will still inflate for a static display.If a session is cancelled due to weather, you will need to keep your ticket and it may be used as a raincheck for admission for any other session at Balloon Fiesta.If Balloon Fiesta is canceled, KOAT will send app users a push alert letting them know. You can subscribe to KOAT alerts here.You can see what the weather looks like in Albuquerque for each day of Balloon Fiesta here.How many balloons are flying this year?Balloon Fiesta officials say there are 648 primary pilots registered this year. There are 120 special shape balloons with 19 new special shape balloons registered this year. What if I can’t make it to Balloon Fiesta this year?We’ve got you covered! If you cannot see Balloon Fiesta in person, you can watch live coverage of the 50th Balloon Fiesta online at KOAT.com. We will also have a live stream of Sky 7 flying over Balloon Fiesta on KOAT.com every morning during the fiesta, starting at 7 a.m.Where can I submit photos I’ve taken from Balloon Fiesta?We want to see the incredible images and videos our viewers take! Please submit your photos to our ulocal New Mexico group on Facebook for a chance to be featured online and on-air.

The 50th Annual Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta begins on Oct. 1 and runs through Oct. 9. Organizers are planning a huge event to celebrate the big anniversary.

Here's everything you need to know about this year’s Balloon Fiesta.

Where is Balloon Fiesta?

Balloon Fiesta Park is located west of I-25 between Alameda Blvd. and Roy Rd.

For parking and how to get there, see the map below.

How do I get there?

If you want to drive, view the map below to see how to get to Balloon Fiesta Park.

Traffic will be congested as you drive to Balloon Fiesta Park. You can check live traffic conditions around the park here.

If you drive, parking is $20 for each session, and you must pay cash. Credit and debit cards are not accepted for parking.

Balloon Fiesta Park and Ride

With traffic expected to be extremely congested this year, Balloon Fiesta has park-and-ride options available.

The following locations are serving as park and ride locations:

Cottonwood Mall (10000 Coors Bypass NW)
Park in the northeast parking lot near Seven Bar Loop and Coors Bypass NW
Coronado Center (6600 Menaul Blvd NE)
Park at the southwest corner near San Pedro Dr. and Uptown Blvd
Hoffmantown Church (8888 Harper Road NE)
Park in the northeast parking lot only

The Intel park-and-ride lot will not be available this year.

Admission to the Balloon Fiesta will be included in your park and ride ticket. All park and ride tickets must be purchased online and will not be available at the remote lots.

You can reserve Park-and-ride tickets here >>

Park-and-ride schedule for morning sessions:

Buses run FROM remote lots TO Balloon Fiesta Park at 4 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.
Inbound service ends at 7 a.m.
Buses run FROM Balloon Fiesta Park TO remote lots from 8 a.m. to 11:30 for full-service return buses
11:30 a.m. to noon: "Straggler" buses. Each "straggler" return bus will go to all locations.

Park-and-ride schedule for evening sessions:

Buses run FROM remote lots TO Balloon Fiesta Park at 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Inbound service ends at 6:30 p.m.
Buses run FROM Balloon Fiesta Park TO remote lots from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for FULL-SERVICE RETURN BUSES
9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. "Straggler" buses. Each "straggler" return bus will go to all locations

There will be no park-and-ride service on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

When should I get there?

Balloon Fiesta officials encourage people to get to the park early, between 4 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., for weekend events, the gates open at 4:30 a.m.

For evening events, people are encouraged to arrive at the park by 4 p.m., and gates open at 3 p.m.

What events are happening at Balloon Fiesta?

Here's a complete schedule of events happening at Balloon Fiesta this year.

How do I purchase tickets?

General admission to Balloon Fiesta is $15/person for anyone over the age of 12.

You can purchase tickets in advance online here or in person at the Balloon Fiesta gift shop. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the gate during the fiesta.

How will I know if Balloon Fiesta is canceled?

Every morning of Balloon Fiesta, there is a pilot’s briefing where Balloon Fiesta officials determine if it is safe to fly based on weather conditions and wind speeds in the area. If things look good, they’ll raise a green flag, giving pilots the go-ahead to lift off.

If things don’t look so good, organizers will raise a red flag, grounding balloons for the day. However, if the conditions are right, pilots will still inflate for a static display.

If a session is cancelled due to weather, you will need to keep your ticket and it may be used as a raincheck for admission for any other session at Balloon Fiesta.

If Balloon Fiesta is canceled, KOAT will send app users a push alert letting them know. You can subscribe to KOAT alerts here.

You can see what the weather looks like in Albuquerque for each day of Balloon Fiesta here.

How many balloons are flying this year?

Balloon Fiesta officials say there are 648 primary pilots registered this year. There are 120 special shape balloons with 19 new special shape balloons registered this year.

What if I can’t make it to Balloon Fiesta this year?

We’ve got you covered! If you cannot see Balloon Fiesta in person, you can watch live coverage of the 50th Balloon Fiesta online at KOAT.com. We will also have a live stream of Sky 7 flying over Balloon Fiesta on KOAT.com every morning during the fiesta, starting at 7 a.m.

Where can I submit photos I’ve taken from Balloon Fiesta?

We want to see the incredible images and videos our viewers take! Please submit your photos to our ulocal New Mexico group on Facebook for a chance to be featured online and on-air.

Everything you need to know for the 50th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS

Where is Balloon Fiesta?

How do I get there?

Balloon Fiesta Park and Ride

Park-and-ride schedule for morning sessions:

Park-and-ride schedule for evening sessions:

When should I get there?

What events are happening at Balloon Fiesta?

How do I purchase tickets?

How will I know if Balloon Fiesta is canceled?

How many balloons are flying this year?

What if I can’t make it to Balloon Fiesta this year?

Where can I submit photos I’ve taken from Balloon Fiesta?

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