Any local will tell you that October is the most beautiful time of year in New Mexico, made so in large part by the much-anticipated sight of colorful balloons punctuating the skyline. During this season, the sky is bluer, the days are gentler, and the mornings crisper -- almost as though the landscape has taken a deep sigh -- and on the desert’s warm breath sails the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

2023 Schedule of Events.

7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
15th

Saturday

5:45 am

Drone Light Show sponsored by Sandia Resort & Casino

6:00 am

Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort

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6:30 am

Krispy Kreme Morning Glow

7:00 am

Opening Ceremonies

7:00 am

Mass Ascension

8:00 am

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition

10:00 am

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Auction

2:00

Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Inflation

3:00 pm

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibiton

5:00 pm

Team Fastrax Skydiving

6:00 pm

Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Launch

6:00 pm

Twilight Twinkle Glow™

7:30 pm

Team Fastrax Skydiving

7:45

Drone Light Show sponsored by Sandia Resort & Casino

8:00 pm

AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show

Sunday

5:45

Drone Light Show sponsored by Sandia Resort & Casino

6:00 am

Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort

6:30 am

Kispy Kreme Morning Glow

7:00 am

Mass Ascension

7:30 am

Fiestas de Los Globitos RC Balloons Exhibition

8:00 am

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition

9:00 am

Fiesta of Wheels Car Show, located on the north end of the Launch Field

10:00 am

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Auction

11:00 am

Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading located at the Group Tour Tent at the north end of Main Street

3:00 pm

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition

5:00 pm

Team Fastrax Skydiving

6:00 pm

Balloon Glow powered by ExxonMobil.

7:30 pm

Team Fastrax Skydiving

7:45

Drone Light Show sponsored by Sandia Resort & Casino

8:00 pm

AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show

Monday

6:00 am

Dawn Patrol

7:00 am

Ascension-Balloon Launch

8:00 am

Fly In Competition Begins

8:00 am

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition

Tuesday

Coca-Cola Day

6:00 am

Dawn Patrol

7:00 am

Ascension-Balloon Launch

8:00 am

Fly In Competition Begins

8:00 am

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition

Wednesday

6:00 am

Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort

6:30 am

Krispy Kreme Morning Glow

7:00 am

Flight of the Nations Mass Ascension

7:30 am

Fiestas de Los Globitos RC Balloons

8:00 am

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition

Thursday

6:00 am

Dawn Patrol

7:00 am

Special Shape Rodeo™

7:00 am

Ascension-Balloon Launch

8:00 am

Fly-In Competition begins

10:00 am

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Auction

3:00 pm

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition

5:00 pm

Team Fastrax Skydiving

6:00 pm

Special Shape Glowdeo™

7:30 pm

Team Fastrax Skydiving

7:45 pm

Drone Light Show sponsored by Sandia Resort & Casino

8:00 pm

AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show

Friday

Kids' Day presented by KOB-TV

6:00 am

Dawn Patrol

7:00 am

Special Shape Rodeo™

7:00 am

Ascension-Balloon Launch

7:30 am

Fiestas de Los Globitos RC Balloons

8:00 am

Fly-In Competition begins

8:00 am

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition

10:00 am

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Auction

3:00 pm

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition

5:00 pm

Team Fastrax Skydiving

6:00 pm

Special Shape Glowdeo™

7:30 pm

Team Fastrax Skydiving

7:45

Drone Light Show sponsored by Sandia Resort & Casino

8:00 pm

AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show

4:30 am

Kid's Day Goodie Bag Distribution Begins

South of Main Street Stage

Saturday

5:45 am

Drone Light Show sponsored by Sandia Resort & Casino

6:00 am

Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort

6:30 am

Krispy Creme Morning Glow

7:00 am

Mass Ascension powered by ExxonMobil.

8:00 am

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition

9:13 am

Annular Solar Eclipse Begins

10:00 am

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Auction

11:00 am

Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading

(Group Tour Tent north end of Main Street)

1:00 pm

Music Fiesta

3:00 pm

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition

5:00 pm

Team Fastrax Skydiving

6:00 pm

Night Magic™ Glow powered by ExxonMobil

6:00 pm

Fiestas de Los Globitos RC Balloon Glow

7:30 pm

Team Fastrax Skydiving sponsored by the City of Las Vegas, NM.

7:45

Drone Light Show sponsored by Sandia Resort & Casino

8:00 pm

AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show

Sunday

6:00 am

Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort

6:30 am

Krispy Kreme Morning Glow

7:00 am

Farewell Mass Ascension - presented by News Radio 770 KKOB

8:00 am

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Exhibition

5:45 am

Drone Light Show sponsored by Sandia Resort & Casino

Entertainment

Wide Variety of Performances

Competition

Special Shape Rodeo™

Chainsaw Carving

AfterGlow™ Fireworks

Photo Contest

Dawn Patrol

Balloon Glows

Current Weather

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© 2018-2023 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Organization