For Immediate Release:
Contact: Tom Garrity, Director of Media Relations (505)898-8689
Event Theme: Carry Me Away

Final Numbers: Following are the official numbers for the 47th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta held October 6-14, 2018.

Total numbers of countries represented: 14 (Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Russia, Catalonia, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom).

Event Sessions: Four of the 14 sessions were canceled due to poor weather conditions (Oct. 6th p.m., 7th p.m., 11th p.m. and 14th a.m.). Guests are encouraged to save the tickets they purchased for these sessions to use for next year.

Team Fastrax: A team of four skydivers kicked off the evening sessions and started our evening AfterGlow Fireworks shows sponsored by Sandia Resort and Casino with 10 performances.

Balloon Competition Winners: The first prize in the hot air overall competition was awarded to Maurice Petrehn, of Kansas. Second overall highest score went to Patrick Fogue of Missouri and third to Josep Llado-Costa of Spain.

X Marks the Spot: More than 150 eager landowners picked up white Xs to mark their land as an approved spot for balloonists to land during this year’s event. Sponsored by the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, nine winners and one grand prize winner will be awarded gift baskets for their participation.

Glamping & Concierge Program: Both new to Balloon Fiesta this year, each program exceeded expectations and officials look forward to hopefully growing each program in the future. There were 22 Glamping reservations made this year and 28 Concierge Program reservations.

Additional information about the 2018 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta can be found at www.balloonfiesta.com. The 2019 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will be held October 5 -13.

* It's difficult to accurately track the number of spectators attending the nine-day event. In order to fulfill media requests on the number of people attending the event, the Balloon Fiesta generates “estimated spectator visits.” The estimate is generated by combining the number of advance tickets, car passes, and gate passes issued to spectators, media, balloon teams, chase crew, park and ride, sponsors, service vehicles, corporate buses, entertainers, recreational vehicles, Balloon Fiesta staff, Balloon Fiesta contractors and Balloon Fiesta VIPs. In some instances, different multipliers are used to compensate for multiple and return visits to the Balloon Fiesta Park.