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GuideWorld's Largest Ballooning Event Celebrates 50 Years of High-Flying Fun
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Recaps its Lively Half Century
Albuquerque, NM – The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, powered by ExxonMobil is celebrating its 50th event in Albuquerque, NM, October 1 -9. Now regarded as the largest ballooning event in the world, Balloon Fiesta comes from humble beginnings.
The first Balloon Fiesta took place on April 8, 1972. It was organized by Sid Cutter, Albuquerque resident and balloonist, in honor of KKOB Radio (formerly known as KOB Radio) and its 50th anniversary. That year, 13 balloons participated in the “First Annual KOB Radio and Television International Balloon Festival,” now considered to be the first Balloon Fiesta, at Coronado Center.
The event grew quickly, in 1973 hosting the First World Championships, along with a balloon rally for non-competing balloonists. Held at the New Mexico State Fairgrounds, 128 balloons were flown. Over the years, different locations have played host to the event, moving to Simms Field in 1975-1981, then to Cutter International Balloonport until 1985. The event was held at the first Balloon Fiesta Park (located south of Alameda Blvd.) from 1986 -1995 and finally moved to the current location, Balloon Fiesta Park (located north of Alameda Blvd.) in 1996. Over the years the Balloon Fiesta has hosted millions of guests and thousands of pilots, representing 56 different countries.
In addition to locations, the event has marked many milestones and seen many changes in 50 years. See below for a recap of Balloon Fiesta highlights and more historical details here.
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November 1971 |
Sid Cutter and eight friends buy a balloon together and form the Albuquerque Aerostat Ascension Association (AAAA), today the world’s largest ballooning organization. |
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April 8, 1972 |
KOB Radio, in celebration of its 50th anniversary, asks Sid Cutter to organize a balloon rally. Thirteen balloons participate in the “First Annual KOB Radio & Television International Balloon Festival,” now considered to be the first Balloon Fiesta, at Coronado Center. |
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February 10-17, 1973 |
Albuquerque hosts the First World Championships, along with an additional “Fiesta” rally for non-competing balloons, at the State Fairgrounds (now Expo New Mexico). The event program refers to the “Fiesta” portion of the rally as the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. 128 balloons participate in the two events (38 in the World Championships and 90 in the ”Fiesta” events). |
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October 1975 |
The Second World Hot Air Balloon Championships and the Fourth Annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta are held on a new site, Simms Field, northwest of Jefferson and I-25. |
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1978 |
Albuquerque’s Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry Newman complete the first crossing by balloon of the Atlantic Ocean aboard Double Eagle II. The flight makes headlines around the world and puts Albuquerque, and ballooning, on the map. |
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1978 |
The Balloon Fiesta holds its first Key Grab, with a vehicle as the prize (nobody won). This event subsequently became known as the “pole grab,” and is now the “ring toss” where pilots place or toss a ring over the pole to win prizes. |
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1978 |
The world’s first Dawn Patrol flight takes place at the Balloon Fiesta. More than 10 years later, Dawn Patrol becomes an official part of the event. |
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1979 |
On Christmas Eve, the first large-scale nighttime balloon display (“balloon glow”) documented in the world is held in Albuquerque’s Country Club area. |
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1981 |
The first Balloon Fiesta gas balloon race is held; these competitions, which focused on accuracy in flying to a target as opposed to distance, continue through the 1980s. |
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1987 |
The first Balloon Fiesta Balloon Glow celebrates the 75th anniversary of New Mexico statehood. These nighttime displays are now among the Balloon Fiesta’s most popular events. |
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1989 |
Special shape balloons get their own showcase, the Special Shape Rodeo, held on Thursday and Friday of Balloon Fiesta week. The first few Rodeos are afternoon competition flying events. |
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1995 |
The Balloon Fiesta founds its own gas balloon distance race, the America’s Challenge; the team of Richard Abruzzo and David Melton wins the race. |
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1996 |
The Balloon Fiesta celebrates its 25th year and moves to the current Balloon Fiesta Park. |
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1997 |
The “Flight of the Nations” honoring international pilots on the Wednesday of Balloon Fiesta week is inaugurated. |
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2000 |
Balloon Fiesta hosts “1,000 in 2000,” with more than 1,000 balloons participating. It is the largest Balloon Fiesta and possibly the largest ballooning event ever held in the world. In subsequent years, in the interest of safety, the number of balloons was scaled back to 750 and later 650. |
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2001 |
Albuquerque Aloft, on the Friday before Balloon Fiesta, becomes an official event, bringing balloonists to local elementary schools to educate, inflate and fly. |
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2013 |
Darius Rucker headlines the first Music Fiesta on the last Saturday of Balloon Fiesta. |
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2015 |
The Sid Cutter Pilots’ Pavilion opens its doors and becomes pilot headquarters for Balloon Fiesta. |
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2017 |
The inauguration of Balloon Fiesta Live! allows enthusiasts from around the world to see professional, livestreamed and archived broadcasts of all Balloon Fiesta sessions |
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2020 |
The COVID-19 pandemic forces the postponement of the 49th Balloon Fiesta, but “Fiesta Siesta” merchandise sells like hotcakes and Balloon Fiesta Live! provides nine days of streamed highlights from past Balloon Fiestas. |
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2021 |
The Balloon Fiesta resumes, celebrating its 49th event with additional COVID precautions in place. |
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2022 |
The Balloon Fiesta celebrates its 50th year/event and the 25thAmerica’s Challenge. |
About the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, powered by ExxonMobil is a festival of hot air balloons that takes place in October in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. It is the largest gathering of balloons and balloonists in the world. The 2019 event generated $186.82 Million into the Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico economies. For details on events, schedule, entertainment and photographs visit our website www.balloonfiesta.com and follow us on Twitter @BalloonFiesta and Facebook.
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