Largest Balloon Fiesta In the Country a Short Road Trip Away From El Paso

Are you up for a fall adventure to the hot air ballooning capital of the world? Good, because this bucket list event is only about a 4-hour drive from El Paso.

The largest balloon fiesta in the country and by far the biggest event in the state of New Mexico is making a fall comeback. After a challenging 2020 that forced its cancellation for the first time since 1972, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will be taking off in October.

Albuquerque’s KRQE-TV reports this year’s fiesta, set for October 2 – 10, will see a near return to normalcy with more than 500 colorfully painted hot air balloons already signed up to dot the New Mexico sky with their colorful shapes.

Organizers told the TV station only the country music concert usually held on the second Saturday of the event and the children’s indoor play area will not be happening this year, but the mass ascensions, balloon glows, and fireworks shows will go on like before.

I've been to been to a hot air balloon event before but never one as enormous as the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Friends who have tell me the no other even comes close to the sheer size of the Balloon Fiesta, and certainly nowhere near the hundreds and hundreds of balloons that participate.

It's something you have to see and experience yourself to believe, I'm told, especially the mass ascensions.

If you’re up for a road trip and a fall adventure, you’ll find all kinds of details including ticket, schedule, hotel and COVID information at balloonfiesta.com.