2024 Albuquerque Balloon Festival?

[Mashmaster]

Has anyone gone to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival before? I am looking to go next year and have a few questions. We are in a 2003 31' Class C Minnie and will be just my wife and I (and dog).

o How fast does the reservation system book out? Is it immediate? minutes/hours/days

o How long did you go for?

o Which lot did you stay in, which would you suggest?

o Did you enjoy it?

Thanks for any help.

[blifsey]

We've not been by youtube channels Keep Your Daydream and Less Junk, More Journey have both done excellent videos on the festival.

[creativepart]

We went a few years ago.

The site reservations sell out very fast, a couple of hours. You get ready the minute the reservations open, you get a busy signal and you keep trying until you get through. Same on the computer, you refresh and refresh until you get your reservation accepted.

We went 3-days but we were completely done in two days. Problem is, you can lose days to wind and weather. So if you book too few days you can miss it entirely.

We stayed in the lot with power and water. We rode the bus up to the event each morning. By the 3rd morning we just sat outside the motorhome.

We enjoyed it, but really after the first day it was just “ look there are more balloons.

Glad we went, wouldn’t go back, not sure it was worth the hassle.

[Ray,IN]

There is an option if you are retired military, you can stay at Kirtland AFB famcamp instead of fighting congestion and traffic. The MWR facility runs a shuttle bus early in the morning and returns just before noon; then they do the same for the evening events.
I really likes not having to drive in the heavy traffic, shuttle bus's have special lanes to use instead of sitting in traffic.
Otherwise creativepart is right on target.

[BACooper]

Tickets sell out really fast. But, opt for the wait list if you don't get a reservation before they are sold out. We were in the water and electric site. The lots were full but, they are very organized to move you into your site. Awesome to be so close and watch the balloons fly over in the morning.

[Maj Tom]

Thanks Ray,IN. USA retired, our youngest daughter lives in Albuquerque. She sends me pics every year of balloons flying over her backyard.

[CrispyBones]

As a resident of ABQ it's worth going out and taking part in the Fiesta at least once as a bucket list item. It's super cool being on the grass and even sometimes helping the pilots with their balloons as they get ready to lift off. As far as RV spaces that I can't speak to since I live here and don't require one. I can only speak to the experience of the Fiesta itself. As Ray mentioned if you do not stay at the Balloon Fiesta facility I concur with taking the shuttle to the Fiesta to avoid traffic (Park & Ride). It'll save you some heartburn trying to get there and back. One last thing. Do not leave valuables around that thieves can quickly snatch up. Albuquerque theft is a big problem. Thieves have actually stolen trailers with hot air balloons in them. No lie.

[wyocamper]

Back in like 1987 or 88 my wife and I drove from Denver to Santa Fe for a weekend, and one morning we got up stupid early and drove to Albuquerque for the balloon festival. It was pretty awesome then, and probably even better now. If we were to do it again now we'd probably do the same, but we'd stay at Santa Fe Skies in our motor home and drive to the festival really early one morning.