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 on the exciting challenge of showcasing the vibrant colors, dynamic movements, and magical moments that define this iconic event.

In this edition of Inside the Basket, we hear from Becky Wood, a social media influencer and travel blogger. Becky shares her journey, insights, and the unique experiences that come with showcasing the world's premier ballooning event with the world.

1. Give a brief overview of yourself and how you came to attend the 52nd Balloon Fiesta.

Hey, I’m Becky! I run an Instagram account called ABQ Adventures, where I share the best things to eat, see, and do around New Mexico. I share my travel experiences with over 1 million viewers per month across my TikTok, Instagram, and blog.

2022 was my first year covering the Balloon Fiesta as a member of the media, but my first-ever Balloon Fiesta was in 1997 as a wide-eyed little girl clutching a hot chocolate in my family’s plastic wagon as I stared up in wonder at the balloon-speckled sky.

That magic has never gone away. As a travel blogger, I’ve had incredible experiences all around the world — but the Balloon Fiesta will always be my favorite!

2. What is your favorite part about attending Balloon Fiesta?

No matter how many times I see a Mass Ascension, it takes my breath away. As Steve Stucker says, it’s “a once in a lifetime experience, every single year!”

But besides the magic of morning Mass Ascensions, my favorite part is the people. This year I met visitors and pilots from as far as France, Brazil and Taiwan. It truly is the “international” Balloon Fiesta. Everyone is always in a great mood —how could you be in a bad mood with so much joy around you?!— and the pilots and crew are always incredibly warm and welcoming.

3. You do a great job of sharing the Balloon Fiesta experience through social media. Walk us through your process of making fun, engaging, and viral Balloon Fiesta content!

Thank you! Covering the Balloon Fiesta as a member of the media is a dream come true!

Scrolling social media is the best way to find new trends, so I spent a few minutes before each session saving trending audio tracks and ideas that I thought would work well with the Fiesta. Shout out to Bill Lee, the pilot of the New Mexico TRUE balloon, for joining me in a video based on a TikTok trend that has over 130,000 views so far!

That said, I didn’t limit myself to trends. I challenged myself to find new-to-me angles of the action, like shooting from the Balloon Museum balcony, the North Diversion Trail near the free Balloon Fiesta Bike Valet, and on the banks of the Rio Grande near the Corrales Bosque Preserve. (If the wind hits right, you’ll catch balloons doing a “Splash n’ Dash” in the river!)

My #1 content tip is cheesy but true: be yourself! If you’re having a good time and sharing your authentic experience, that’ll shine through in your content. People want to see themselves in your story.

4. What tips do you have for guests planning to attend next year’s Balloon Fiesta?

Go early, go often, and bike if you can!

Go early: Strolling the field with a breakfast burrito in hand as the Dawn Patrol flames to life around you is a key part of the Fiesta experience, and infinitely better than stressing out in traffic because you left late. It’s always worth the early alarm.

Go often: The 52nd Balloon Fiesta had an unprecedented 14 sessions with a green flag for good flying conditions, but in most years the weather cancels at least one session. Plan to attend several days of the Fiesta to maximize your chances of perfect weather and seeing the famous “Albuquerque box” wind effect.

Bike if you can: Balloon Fiesta is incredibly convenient to Albuquerque’s network of paved bike trails, and there’s a FREE Bike Valet! Gather your friends and deck out your bikes with festive, colorful lights for biking in the dark. Biking to the balloons is a magical experience that I can’t recommend enough.

5. Of the many balloons at Balloon Fiesta, which is your favorite?

That’s like picking “red” or “green”: it depends on the day! The Smokey Bear Balloon is a classic I loved at childhood Balloon Fiestas and still seek out on the field each year. I love his un-bear-ably cute new envelope design! My other favorite familiar face is Airabelle the Creamland Cow. She’s so large that she can only fly under perfect conditions, so it’s a special treat to see her MOO-ve gracefully through the sky.

As far as new balloons, I’m enchanted by Sir Mix-a-Lot the cement truck —he flies pretty well for being so weighed down!