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GuideInside the Basket Interview Archive
Inside the Basket - Alain Baird, Balloon Pilot
September 10, 2024
There will be 106 Special Shapes balloons flying in the 52nd event, and 16 making their Balloon Fiesta debut this year! In this month’s Inside the Basket, get to know pilot Alain Baird f…
Inside the Basket - Triston Garcia, Official Balloon Fiesta Photographer
August 13, 2024
Capturing the splendor of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is no small feat. Each year, our dedicated team of Official Balloon Fiesta Photographers embarks on the exhilarating chal…
Inside the Basket - Balloon Pilot Andrew Strang and his team Sky Adventures
July 15, 2024
Adventure seekers travel from across the world to attend Balloon Fiesta. In this month’s Inside the Basket interview, we hear from pilot Andrew Strang and his team at Sky Adventures, who…
Inside the Basket - Kyle McConahy, Balloon Fiesta Navigator
June 13, 2024
The phrase “it takes a village” comes to mind when creating a successful Balloon Fiesta event. Each year, hundreds of Navigators volunteer their time to guide guests and ensure a g…
Inside the Basket - Doug Gantt, Balloon Pilot
May 14, 2024
Special Shape Balloons are often guest favorites at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. In this month’s Inside the Basket, long-time pilot and Albuquerque local, Doug Gantt, ow…
Inside the Basket - Lonnie Carreathers, Balloon Pilot
April 11, 2024
Lonnie Carreathers is the pilot of Spectrum and chief pilot of the Elevated 4x4 Balloon Team. Lonnie has been attending the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta since 2001. In this month&r…
Inside the Basket - Stacey Peterson, Balloon Fiesta First Time Guest
March 25, 2024
We welcomed hundreds of thousands of guests to Balloon Fiesta Park last year, some who were event veterans and others who were visiting us for the first time. It’s our hope that, whether…
Inside the Basket - Don Henderson, Official Balloon Fiesta Photographer
February 13, 2024
Don Henderson is one of the Balloon Fiesta Official Photographers, specializing in aerial photos taken from the basket. In this month’s Inside the Basket, he gives a look at his journey…
Inside the Basket - Cameron Wall, Balloon Pilot
January 22, 2024
Cameron Wall is the pilot of "Grandma's Legacy, a custom balloon with his Grandmother's underwater watercolor painting printed on the entirety of the balloon. In this month’s Inside the…
Inside the Basket - Michael Steward, remote control balloon pilot and assistant balloonmmeister for Fiesta de los Globitos
December 11, 2023
As Balloon Fiesta’s assistant balloonmeister for Fiesta de Los Globitos, Michael Steward helped to coordinate the safe launch of the remote controlled (RC) balloons during the 2023 Ballo…
