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Inside the Basket - Nate Herrera, Balloon Fiesta guest, and Visual Storyteller.
April 29, 2025
For Albuquerque locals, the Balloon Fiesta is an integral part of life in October, as hundreds of balloons fill the skies each morning. In this month’s Inside the Basket, we hear from N…
Inside the Basket - Zack Griego, Pilot
December 10, 2024
Each year, Balloon Fiesta welcomes pilots from all around the world, launching 500+ balloons, making the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® the largest gathering of hot air balloons…
Inside the Basket - Doug Hinebaugh, Photographer and Social Media Manager
November 19, 2024
Each year, Balloon Fiesta welcomes and works with members of the media during the event from all media platforms including broadcast, print, photography and digital media. These members embark…
Inside the Basket - Becky Wood, Social Media Influencer and Travel Blogger
October 28, 2024
Each year, Balloon Fiesta welcomes and works with members of the media during the event from all media platforms including broadcast, print, photography and digital media. These members embark…
Inside the Basket - Alain Bard, 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 Bard fr…
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…
Inside the Basket - Faith Taylor, Balloon Fiesta Guest
November 28, 2023
We welcomed hundreds of thousands of guests to Balloon Fiesta Park this 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 - Eldita Garcia, Balloon Fiesta Guest
October 27, 2023
Eldita Garcia was a first-time guesta at the 51st Balloon Fiesta. In this month’s Inside the Basket, she shares more about her experience, the memories that she made with her daughter a…
Inside the Basket - Joanne Sears, Balloon Fiesta Navigator
August 31, 2023
Joanne Sears is a first-year Balloon Fiesta Navigator who is helping answer guest questions at Balloon Fiesta’s front desk. In this month’s Inside the Basket, she provides insight…
Inside the Basket - Kevin Short, Balloon Fiesta Poster Artist
August 14, 2023
Kevin Short is the 2023 Balloon Fiesta poster artist. In this month’s Inside the Basket, he shares some of his unique ties to the event, a ballooning record that he holds himself and mor…
Inside the Basket - Eric Brower, Fiesta Sky Box Guest
July 19, 2023
Eric Brower works for a local construction company and used Fiesta Sky Boxes to celebrate his employees. In this month’s Inside the Basket, he shares more about his Fiesta Sky Box exper…
Inside the Basket - Keaton Collins, Camp 505 Director
June 23, 2023
Keaton Collins is the Camp Director of Balloon Fiesta’s new Camp 505. In this month’s Inside the Basket interview, he shares what Camp 505 guests can expect, what his role will be…
Inside the Basket - Rodney May, Balloon Fiesta Board of Director and Remote Control Balloon Pilot
May 16, 2023
Rodney May is on the Balloon Fiesta Board of Directors, as well as a remote control balloon operator. In this month’s Inside the Basket, he gives a look at how he became introduced to th…
Inside the Basket - Tania Armenta, Balloon Fiesta Board Member
March 22, 2023
Tania Armenta is the President and CEO of Visit Albuquerque and one of Balloon Fiesta’s newest Board of Directors. In this month’s Inside the Basket, she shares more about how she…
Inside the Basket - Kari Harris, First-time Balloon Fiesta Guest
February 16, 2023
We welcomed hundreds of thousands of guests to Balloon Fiesta Park this year; some event veterans, others were visiting us for the first time. It’s our hope that whether new or returning…
Inside the Basket - Judith Nakamura, President, Balloon Fiesta Board of Directors
January 23, 2023
As a former chief justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court and longtime balloonist, Judith Nakamura, has a history with and strong commitment to New Mexico. In this month’s Inside the Bas…
Inside the Basket - Melissa Bond, Balloon Fiesta Safety Officer and Balloonmeister for Fiesta de Los Globitos
December 15, 2022
As Balloon Fiesta’s Safety Officer and Balloonmeister for Fiesta de Los Globitos, Melissa Bond helps to coordinate the safe launch of the remote controlled balloons during Balloon Fiesta…
