Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

A photographic tour

New Mexico’s spectacular annual hot air balloon festival is now under way. The nine day event is the largest event of its kind in the world. It involves glowing balloons at dawn and dusk, mass launches, strangely shaped balloons and flying races.

©age fotostock/Robert Harding

Mass launches of hundreds of balloons are carefully coordinated events where launch directors make sure the balloons leave the field in a safe and coordinated way – all accompanied by the US national anthem, naturally.

©age fotostock/Robert Harding

During festival days up to 100,000 spectators may be on the launch field, where they can watch the launch process from close by. Others observe the festival from sites all over the city, including their backyards.

©Richard Maschmeyer/Robert Harding

New Mexico mounted police watch over the fiesta.

©Eye Ubiquitous/Robert Harding

©age fotostock/Robert Harding

In one of the most popular events in the fiesta, many bizarrely shaped balloons, including those in the form of animals, hats, soda cans and motor vehicles, are launched at the same time.

At night large numbers of balloons light up simultaneously by firing their propane burners. There is also a “Glowdeo” just for the special shaped balloons.

See more pictures of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta here