ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The 47th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is underway with the launch Saturday of hundreds of brightly-colored hot-air balloons.

The annual event at Balloon Fiesta Park draws about 1 million visitors to central New Mexico.

This year's balloon festival theme is "Carry Me Away" and has mass ascensions scheduled this weekend, Wednesday and the weekend of Oct. 13-14.