Balloon Fiesta is a nine-day event
Sat. October 5 - Sun. October 13, 2024
Our 2024 tour price is $75 per person, per session.
Includes: round trip luxury transportation, general admission ticket, informative tour guide, closed-route (we don't sit in passenger car traffic), souvenir map & tax. We are experts in transportation to Balloon Fiesta. This tour takes place aboard luxury motor coaches on a closed route and we avoid traffic. We park at the south gate, no long walk to the field. We give information so you are oriented to the field upon arrival. The vehicle stays parked : you can safely leave belongings in your seat. Balloon Fiesta is made up of 14 individual sessions. There are morning sessions (Mass Ascensions) and evening sessions (Glows). We provide tours to 12 sessions. No service on Monday or Tuesday. QUESTIONS? Please refer to the FAQ’s below. Still have questions? Give us a call at 505-321-4864 daily We depart the balloon field once after each session: 9:30AM: after morning mass ascensions and 8:30PM: after evening glows. |
We depart from these Albuquerque hotels
Call 505-321-4864 to make your reservation today! Non-stop service to the Balloon Park from the MARRIOTT PYRAMID NORTH (print and fill in form coming soon) 5151 San Francisco NE 505-821-3333 Route One: click here to view, print, and fill in form Holiday Inn Express : 2300 12th St. NW 505-842-5000 Towneplace Suites : 2510 12th St. NW 505-314-8201 Comfort Inn : 411 McKnight NW 505-242-5228 Doubletree Hotel : 201 Marquette NW 505-247-3344 Hotel Andaluz : 125 2nd St. NW 505-242-9090 Hilton Garden Inn : 222 Central Ave SE 505-808-1041 Homewood Suites : 222 Central Ave SE 505-808-1042 Hotel Parq Central : 806 Central Ave SE 505-242-0040 La Quinta : 7439 Pan American Fwy NE 505-345-7500 Days Inn : 5101 Ellison St. NE 505-344-1555 Route Two print and fill in form coming soon Fairfield Inn : 4875 Pan Am West Fwy NE 505-344-1574 Hampton Inn : 4412 The 25 Way NE 505-345-4500 Residence Inn North : 4331 The 25 Way NE 505-761-0200 Nativo Lodge : 6000 Pan Am Freeway NE 505-798-4300 |
FAQS
Q: How often do you go out to the field? How long will I be at each session?
A: Morning ascensions:
We go to the field one time in the morning. Please see the sign-up form for the pick-up time from your hotel.
You will be at the field for about 3 hours, we depart the field at 9:30AM to return to the hotels.
Evening glows:
We go to the field one time in the afternoon please see the sign-up form for the pick-up time from your hotel.
You are at the field for about 3 hours, we depart at 8:30PM after the fireworks.
Q: Are they "Sessions" or "Events"
A: Both terms are correct. The important thing to know is that they are 14 individual sessions/events and a new admission ticket is required for each one.
Q: Why should I take this tour?
A: 1) No traffic! we have a closed-route pass for buses only, we do not sit in traffic with passenger cars
2) The general admission ticket is included at 1/3 off the regular price
3) Knowledgeable and caring staff on the bus and a cell phone number to contact them during the event
4) Orientation: you will know where to go as soon as you step off the motor coach with our map in hand
Q: Can I put a wheelchair in the baggage bin of the bus? Can I put other personal things under the bus.
A: Yes, We routinely load electric wheelchairs and scooters as well as manual wheelchairs under the bus.
You can also put your stroller, wagon, lawn chair under the bus. No glass containers or hard sided coolers are allowed.
Here is a link for what Balloon Fiesta allows into the park.
Q: How long does it take to get to the Park and back?
A: Between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on if you are on the first stop or the last stop on the route. From the closest hotels to the Park (the Marriott Pyramid North and the Courtyard Marriott) we average 10-20 minutes to get into the park. We average 20-30 minutes to drop off at all hotels after each event.
Q: I’m looking at the Balloon Fiesta map of the Park at the Balloon Fiesta web site www.balloonfiesta.com. Where does this service drop-off and pick-up?
A: Near the lower left corner of the map you’ll see “Transit Area” the icon is a yellow taxi. That is our drop-off and pick-up point.
Q: Please explain the cost of $75 or $65 for adults & seniors and children 2-13 years old $30 and under 2 are free?
A: The adult & senior price of $75 includes a general admission ticket, luxury vehicle, tour guide on the vehicle, balloon park map & sales tax.
The adult & senior price of $65 includes everything but no admission. The $65 option is for people who have already purchased the general admission ticket for $15 or the Gondola Club or Chaser's Club admission.
The child fee of $30 for people 2 to 12 is a discounted seat on the coach. Children who are younger than 2 sit on your lap and they are free. If you prefer to use your car seat you can purchase a seat for your child for $30.
Q: Is there food at Balloon Fiesta Park?
A: Yes! There are lots of types of food available at the park. There are over 150 vendors and many of them serve food.
Q: Do the vendors take credit cards?
A: Many vendors use card processing, but cash is preferred, small bills or exact amount is very helpful. Don't forget the extra $1 for the tip jar :-)
Q: What else is there to do there?
A: There are typically 150 vendors that line the balloon field in tents. They sell a variety of foods typically found in a state-fair-type-setting. They sell every type of ballooning souvenir you can imagine. There are exhibits too, like the rock climbing wall & the chainsaw carvers, entertainment like strolling Mariachis and other live bands. The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is also located at the Park and golf cart shuttles are available. The Balloon Museum is open in the early morning. The Museum is not open during the balloon glow events.
Q: How are the morning events and the evening events different?
A: The balloons lift off and fly during the morning mass ascensions. Typically over 550 will launch between 7AM – 8:30AM. There’s no easy way to describe a mass ascension, you just gotta see it! In the evening the balloons do not fly, they are tethered, the gondola sits on the ground and the pilot uses their “glow burners” to illuminate the balloon. Glow events are a great time to meet the pilots and wander throughout the field and socialize. Glows have fast become the most popular, why? One reason is because you don’t have to wake before dawn.
Q: Can I stay at Balloon Fiesta Park all day?
A: Yes you can, all-day means 14-hours (6:30am - 8:30pm). The morning event ticket expires at 10am. We provide two admission tickets so if you leave the field mid-day you can enter again using the second ticket. Some of our guests have stayed all day and they told us that many of the vendors take “siesta” in the middle of the day and they had hours of idle time eventually taking Uber/Lyft back to the hotel.
The second Saturday is Music Fiesta and is the most popular day to stay all day.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday have morning events only that are over by 10 a.m. THERE ARE NO GLOWS MON TUES AND WED
A: Morning ascensions:
We go to the field one time in the morning. Please see the sign-up form for the pick-up time from your hotel.
You will be at the field for about 3 hours, we depart the field at 9:30AM to return to the hotels.
Evening glows:
We go to the field one time in the afternoon please see the sign-up form for the pick-up time from your hotel.
You are at the field for about 3 hours, we depart at 8:30PM after the fireworks.
Q: Are they "Sessions" or "Events"
A: Both terms are correct. The important thing to know is that they are 14 individual sessions/events and a new admission ticket is required for each one.
Q: Why should I take this tour?
A: 1) No traffic! we have a closed-route pass for buses only, we do not sit in traffic with passenger cars
2) The general admission ticket is included at 1/3 off the regular price
3) Knowledgeable and caring staff on the bus and a cell phone number to contact them during the event
4) Orientation: you will know where to go as soon as you step off the motor coach with our map in hand
Q: Can I put a wheelchair in the baggage bin of the bus? Can I put other personal things under the bus.
A: Yes, We routinely load electric wheelchairs and scooters as well as manual wheelchairs under the bus.
You can also put your stroller, wagon, lawn chair under the bus. No glass containers or hard sided coolers are allowed.
Here is a link for what Balloon Fiesta allows into the park.
Q: How long does it take to get to the Park and back?
A: Between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on if you are on the first stop or the last stop on the route. From the closest hotels to the Park (the Marriott Pyramid North and the Courtyard Marriott) we average 10-20 minutes to get into the park. We average 20-30 minutes to drop off at all hotels after each event.
Q: I’m looking at the Balloon Fiesta map of the Park at the Balloon Fiesta web site www.balloonfiesta.com. Where does this service drop-off and pick-up?
A: Near the lower left corner of the map you’ll see “Transit Area” the icon is a yellow taxi. That is our drop-off and pick-up point.
Q: Please explain the cost of $75 or $65 for adults & seniors and children 2-13 years old $30 and under 2 are free?
A: The adult & senior price of $75 includes a general admission ticket, luxury vehicle, tour guide on the vehicle, balloon park map & sales tax.
The adult & senior price of $65 includes everything but no admission. The $65 option is for people who have already purchased the general admission ticket for $15 or the Gondola Club or Chaser's Club admission.
The child fee of $30 for people 2 to 12 is a discounted seat on the coach. Children who are younger than 2 sit on your lap and they are free. If you prefer to use your car seat you can purchase a seat for your child for $30.
Q: Is there food at Balloon Fiesta Park?
A: Yes! There are lots of types of food available at the park. There are over 150 vendors and many of them serve food.
Q: Do the vendors take credit cards?
A: Many vendors use card processing, but cash is preferred, small bills or exact amount is very helpful. Don't forget the extra $1 for the tip jar :-)
Q: What else is there to do there?
A: There are typically 150 vendors that line the balloon field in tents. They sell a variety of foods typically found in a state-fair-type-setting. They sell every type of ballooning souvenir you can imagine. There are exhibits too, like the rock climbing wall & the chainsaw carvers, entertainment like strolling Mariachis and other live bands. The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is also located at the Park and golf cart shuttles are available. The Balloon Museum is open in the early morning. The Museum is not open during the balloon glow events.
Q: How are the morning events and the evening events different?
A: The balloons lift off and fly during the morning mass ascensions. Typically over 550 will launch between 7AM – 8:30AM. There’s no easy way to describe a mass ascension, you just gotta see it! In the evening the balloons do not fly, they are tethered, the gondola sits on the ground and the pilot uses their “glow burners” to illuminate the balloon. Glow events are a great time to meet the pilots and wander throughout the field and socialize. Glows have fast become the most popular, why? One reason is because you don’t have to wake before dawn.
Q: Can I stay at Balloon Fiesta Park all day?
A: Yes you can, all-day means 14-hours (6:30am - 8:30pm). The morning event ticket expires at 10am. We provide two admission tickets so if you leave the field mid-day you can enter again using the second ticket. Some of our guests have stayed all day and they told us that many of the vendors take “siesta” in the middle of the day and they had hours of idle time eventually taking Uber/Lyft back to the hotel.
The second Saturday is Music Fiesta and is the most popular day to stay all day.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday have morning events only that are over by 10 a.m. THERE ARE NO GLOWS MON TUES AND WED