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Where's the Party?
Albuquerque benefits from a freakish twist of meteorological
fate known as the Albuquerque Box, a geologic break provided
by the nearby Sandia Mountains and complex weather
patterns of the area that give balloonists high levels of
control. However, it is not just this fact, nor the many listings
in the Yellow Pages for balloon companies eager to get you
up above the city, Wizard of Oz style, that give Albuquerque
its tag as the Balloon Capital of the world. Perhaps it is
because each year in the first week of October, the brilliant
blue desert sky above the city becomes kaleidoscopically pregnant
with balloons.
History
The festival had somewhat less magnificent beginnings - a
handful of balloons drifting skywards from a parking lot in
uptown Albuquerque to commemorate the 50th anniversary of
local radio station KOB in February 1972. It had been intended
that 21 balloons would participate, but lousy weather reduced
the turnout to 13. However, the overtones of this number clearly
did nothing to dampen the spirits and enthusiasm of the locals,
and over the past 30 years, the month has been changed to
the more serendipitous October and the location has been moved
to an old alfalfa field (a previous flirtation with the State
Fairgrounds saw a few problems along the lines of balloons
landing in the military base). These days, the event attracts
close to 1 million visitors, around 800 balloons and fills
a whole week and the whole sky.
What Happens at the Balloon Fiesta?
Beginning each day at sunrise with a mass ascension of literally
hundreds of balloons, the days see varied events on terra
firma, as well as balloonists engaging in friendly competitions.
Each night culminates in a glowing ascension of the balloons
- spine-tinglingly illuminated by their own fires and lighting
up the night sky.
Aside from the glorious technicolour of the dawn ascension
and the pure enchantment of the night time balloon glow, there
is plenty in the hours between to keep the visitor entertained,
and it's far more boisterous than the hushed, awed admiration
of the dawn and dusk spectacles. Try checking out the Tumbleweed
Drop - and forget any ideas about feather-light tumbleweeds
wheeling lonesomely down Route 66. This is all about balloonists
swooping down to grab all manner of plant life and then dropping
it from the sky in an effort to hit a designated target. Popular
also is the Key Grab competition, where balloons (and their
pilots) dance crazily in flight, dipping, rising, writhing
and stretching to grab car keys from a 30 foot pole.
Balloons in non-traditional shapes are showcased in the Special
Shape Rodeo, where balloons are formed into shapes as
grand as dinosaurs, elephants and giant cacti, and as unexpected
as a motorcycle, a sailing ship with three masts and even
a folded newspaper. The sky's the limit.
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