Save The Date
Join us October 1-9, 2022, for the 50th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Start your planning for the festivities which all start on Saturday, October 1, and include the magical Mass Ascension! The 50th event schedule will be available on www.balloonfiesta.com in the coming weeks. 

Balloon Fiesta Insider
The 49th Balloon Fiesta was a sight to see! The event featured more than 500 balloons, seven magical balloon launches, one gorgeous morning static display and three evening glow sessions. Due to weather, three sessions from the 49th Balloon Fiesta are considered raincheck sessions and tickets for those sessions can be used for entry to a session at the 50th Balloon Fiesta. 

Guests who attended the evening sessions on October 8, 2021 and October 9, 2021 and the morning session on October 10, 2021 should plan to exchange their tickets from the 49th Balloon Fiesta, for a ticket to the 50th event, at Balloon Fiesta’s Gift Shop after April 1, 2022. Balloon Fiesta’s Gift Shop is located at 4401 Alameda Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113. 
 
The 49th Balloon Fiesta also featured several important announcements. Days ahead of the event, the new “Tet Tower” was unveiled. This tower, which serves as the public safety nerve center for the event, was revealed to be named after the late Allen “Tet” Tetreault. In addition to serving as Balloon Fiesta’s Director of Public Safety, he was a Chief Master Sergeant for the New Mexico Air National Guard. His wife Laura, children Kellen and Brooke as well as his mother and father Shirley and Al Tetreault (Balloon Fiesta’s Board Vice President) were present for the special unveiling. 
(Photo by Tammy Petter)

Additionally, a special project took place in anticipation of the 50th event. Over the period of nine days, a balloon was built and born at Balloon Fiesta - a process that normally takes up to 10 weeks. The final design, which was inflated for a safety inspection on the second Saturday of Balloon Fiesta, is in celebration of the 50th event. The 50th Balloon will fly around the country to celebrate and promote the upcoming 50th Balloon Fiesta.
Merchandise Update
We’re nearly sold out from the 49th event! Thank you to each and every one of you who purchased a piece of Balloon Fiesta to take home with you, while in attendance this year. As a result, there will not be a December sale this year. Our team is working to update www.balloonfiestastuff.com with items that are still available. Keep an eye out for updates over the next several weeks and for new merchandise, which will begin to trickle in over the next several months. 
Inside the Basket

Sara Lopez was a first-time Balloon Fiesta guest at the 49th event.   

In this month’s Inside the Basket, Sara talks more about her Balloon Fiesta experience and what it meant to share it with family.
October in Ballooning
On October 7, 2001, Astrid Gerhardt set the duration world record for AA-04 type balloons. Astrid flew for a total of 23 hours and 17 minutes before landing. This world record is still upheld today. 
October Photo-of-the-Month
We have received some beautiful pictures of past years' events, submitted through Balloon Fiesta's social media! Below is the photo chosen for October. Thank you to Instagram user @Ashley_rae1186!
Do you have a Balloon Fiesta photo that you’re proud of? Do you have a Balloon Fiesta photo that you’re proud of? Entries for the Akima-Cindy Petrehn Memorial Photo Contest are now being accepted! Submit your favorite images, captured during the 49th Balloon Fiesta through October 31, 2021. The Grand Prize winner will receive $1,000. To submit your photo, or learn more about the official entry rules, click here: https://balloonfiesta.com/Photo-Contest-Rules 

Be sure to also share your favorite Balloon Fiesta image on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and tag our page for a chance to be featured in next month’s newsletter!
Read all about it
Check out the latest media coverage about Balloon Fiesta
Sponsor Spotlight
Thank you to our sponsors of the 49th Balloon Fiesta! The success of this year’s event is large in part because of you! We hope that you enjoyed the exposure of your brand to the hundreds of thousands of guests at the event. We look forward to working with you again for the 50th Balloon Fiesta. If you would like information on sponsorship options for the 50th event, please contact Stephanie Prendergast at sprendergast@balloonfiesta.com.
For a complete list of Balloon Fiesta sponsors, click here.
Find Us Online
 Official e-newsletter of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.