Save The Date

Join us October 4-12, 2025 for the 53^rd ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico!

Balloon Fiesta Insider

Did you participate in the Balloon Fiesta Selfie Scavenger Hunt this year? Inside the 2024 52nd Balloon Fiesta Program, 20 scavenger hunt clues were given, signified with the Fiesta Balloon logo. Each clue led to a location at the Balloon Fiesta Park or around Albuquerque. After finding the location, guests were encouraged to snap a selfie with the answer to the clue/location in the background and post the photo on social media, tagging Balloon Fiesta with #balloonfiesta.

Below are the answers to the second 10 scavenger hunt clues. We released the previous 10 clues in last month’s newsletter. Thank you to everyone who participated during the 52^nd event!

11. Southeast Corner of Competition Area – Launch Site D4

12. Balloon Museum

13. Gondola Club Pond

14. Sandia Crest Conifers

15. Petroglyphs

16. South-end Berm

17. Chainsaw Display

18. Arts & Crafts Show

19. Main Street Stage

20. Pavilion Patio

Merchandise Update

Get ready for the December Merchandise Sale starting December 13! The online-only sale will launch at 8 p.m. The December Sale will close at 8 a.m. on December 17. Expect even larger discounts on any remaining items!

Items will be available for shipping or pickup at the Balloon Fiesta gift shop. Please do not pick up your items until after receiving the email that items are ready for pick up. Special weekend pick-up hours are available Saturday, December 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, December 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All pick-up orders must be picked up by 5 p.m. December 20.

For more information about upcoming hours/dates, see the 2024 Holiday Hours calendar below!

Inside the Basket

Each year, Balloon Fiesta welcomes pilots from all around the world, launching 500+ balloons, making the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® the largest gathering of hot air balloons in the world!

In this month’s Inside the Basket, Zack Griego, pilot of "Dixie”, shares more about his ballooning story and gives advice to those who are thinking of becoming a pilot.

This Month in Ballooning

On December 19, 2007, Swiss pilot Pierrick Duvoisen set the duration world record for AX-01-type balloons, a category of small hot air balloons with envelopes under 250 cubic meters. Duvoisin took flight in the Valley of Brevine in a homemade balloon and flew for a total of 6 hours, 20 minutes and 38 seconds. This record still stands today. 

Photo-of-the-Month

Congratulations to Adam Newman, Grand Prize Winner of the 2024 Cindy Petrehn Memorial Photo Contest! Thank you to all those who participated, and to our panel of judges who dedicated their time.

Do you have a Balloon Fiesta photo of which you’re proud? 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 Balloon Fiesta’s latest media coverage

• Thrillist Explorers features Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in a video episode - Watch the World's Largest Balloon Festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Vocal Media showcases Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta as one of the Top Festivals Around the World You Can't Miss
• Albuquerque Business First honors Balloon Fiesta co-founder, politician Tom Rutherford

Sponsor Spotlight

This holiday season, we would like to extend our gratitude to all our sponsors for their unwavering support and commitment to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®. Your contributions have been instrumental in making our event a resounding success. Thank you for being an essential part of our journey. We look forward to soaring to new heights together in the coming year for the 53^rd Balloon Fiesta. If you would like information on sponsorship opportunities for the 53^rd event, please contact Stephanie Prendergast at sprendergast@balloonfiesta.com.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

For a complete list of Balloon Fiesta sponsors, click here.

 Official e-newsletter of the ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

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