Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Oct 4, 5 and 6, 2024 (notes at end for future visits)

Friday - evening drive to Pueblo - Econolodge OK for cheap motel (waffles!)

Saturday - Pueblo to Bernalillo (Super 8 - crappy but workable with ADA room) - Viewed the Rio Grande along a dirt trail along the way - Night Glow was hindered by winds

Pueblo last night La Veta Pass Dirt trail down to the Rio line going in moon and kite Moon and Venus wind finally died so some launches

Sunday - Alarm set for 415a. Great weather, great ascension. Drive from ABQ to home about sunset

Met up with Joetta Cormier and her daughter Karen nearly home

The morning starts with the drone show

our traditional breakfast on the field


Bernalillo, NM is good place to stay as getting into Balloon Fiest Park from the north is much faster than any other direction. Even if staying anywhere else we prefer driving to Bernalillo and turning around to approach from the north (exit Tramway southbound). Parking is $20 each visit and handicapped parking is, in fact, quite close in. The drone show is good but is exactly the same after the glow Saturday night as it is, again, Sunday morning. The glow is getting less interesting, to us, as the same things are saw (except the so-so fireworks) Sunday morning. Or a Friday night/Saturday morning combo, BTW. We left the motel about 515a Sunday, about 30min drive and waiting in line. Drone show was just starting. We left for home before 9a. Also, it's a yummy tradition, for us, to have fresh mini donuts for breakfast (see video above). Picnic tables are possible but difficult to sit at because they are used up quickly. We bring collapsable chairs in a backpack for brief rests.