Balloons & Beyond in Albuquerque this Fall

The nine-day Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is not only one of the most photographed events world wide, it is also the world’s largest celebration of the colorful sport. With autumn one of the most enjoyable times of the year to be in New Mexico, cool mornings and mild warm days with gentle winds combine with the drop-dead gorgeous scenery to make for an unforgettable celebration–with or without your camera.

Events are plentiful during the October 5-13 celebration with something for everyone. The 48th annual fiesta, appropriately themed “Picture Perfect,” will feature more than 500 hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes. Pilots from all over the world have been invited to fly in the popular international event.

The Balloon Fiesta’s five signature morning mass ascensions launch both weekends just screams for perfect picture taking.  Other favorite events include the Balloon Glows, Special Shape Rodeo, Laser Light Shows and Fireworks Shows. A complete schedule for the nine-day event can be found here.

The first day of flying is scheduled for Saturday, October 5.  The Dawn Patrol Show, launching in the dark will take to the skies followed by a dawn launch of more than 500 hot air balloons.  Balloon pilots will launch in various waves in search of the famous Albuquerque Box (a wind pattern unique to Balloon Fiesta Park providing pilots the chance to take off and land from the same location).

The Balloon Fiesta flying competition will begin on Monday and will continue through Friday. On Wednesday, the Flight of the Nations will get the mid-week mass ascension started, showcasing all countries represented at Balloon Fiesta.

Balloons are by far not the only entertainment at Balloon Fiesta. Music Fiesta, a one-day music festival will be on October 12.

Spend time in Albuquerque

Before you venture out to explore some of the state’s ancient communities, visit the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in the heart of Albuquerque for an introduction to the history and culture of New Mexico’s Pueblo peoples. Jointly operated by the nineteen Pueblos of New Mexico, the center offers a world-class museum, the Pueblo Harvest Café with Native fusion cuisine and the Shumakolowa Native Arts gift shop with authentic, handcrafted Native jewelry, rugs, baskets and more. The Pueblo Cultural Center is a must-see stop on your way to any of the state’s pueblos, including Acoma.

Old Town Albuquerque, founded in 1706, is the ideal place to eat, stroll and stay if you want to combine your visit with the area’s rich blend of local Native American and Spanish cultures. Traditionally Spanish in design, the focal point is the central plaza with church surrounded by historic homes that have been renovated into shops, galleries and restaurants. Hidden patios, winding brick paths and balconies overlooking it all add romance to your visit. Considered the most important historical zone of the city, several tours are available of the area to enrich your experience, including a Ghost Tour that talks about the area’s historic buildings, dark alleys, secret battles and hidden cemeteries on a 90-minute lantern-led adventure.

South of Albuquerque

Acoma Pueblo, just 67 miles from Albuquerque and situated atop a towering mesa, is North America’s oldest continuously inhabited community, first settled in 1150. It is the only Native American site designated as a Historic Site by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Sky City Cultural Center and Haak’u Museum at Acoma offers guided tours of the Pueblo, world-famous Acoma pottery and other Native crafts for sale. The well-regarded Y’aak’a Café features Acoma traditional foods and contemporary American favorites, as well as a spectacular view of the Pueblo.

Fondly known as “The Bosque,” Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge is near the small town of San Antonio, nine miles south of Socorro and less than an hour and a half from Albuquerque. Native Americans often camped in this riverside forest, and the area was occupied by Pueblo peoples for centuries. This is an important wintering home for sandhill cranes —as many as 14,000 during the winter months. It is also home to thousands of snow and Ross geese, bald and golden eagles, great blue herons and avocets, as well as small herds of mule deer and families of coyotes. Watching the sunset “Fly In” and the dawn “Fly Out” is nearly as big a visual treat as the Balloon Fiesta.

Located 50 miles west of Socorro, The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array is the most advanced radio telescope array on earth, with 27 giant telescopes aimed at picking up cosmic radio waves from deep space. The VLA offers guided tours the first Saturday of every month and self-guided tours are available daily. Make a day of it and visit the Etscorn Observatory at New Mexico Tech in Socorro an hour after dusk for Guided Night Star Gazing.

San Miguel Mission, in downtown Socorro, celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2015 and is the oldest Catholic Church in the United States. With its beautifully restored adobe walls, large carved vigas and supporting corbel arches, it is a stunning example of classic Mission architecture. The church remains an inspirational symbol of the Spanish Catholic heritage, celebrated by the annual Fiestas in late September. It is a great starting point for the City of Socorro Historic Walking Tour.

Situated in the foothills of the scenic Sangre de Cristo Mountains, it is easy to see why Santa Fe’s natural beauty has been an inspiration to artists and art lovers since its inception. History and beauty abound, but it is all about the art in Santa Fe with galleries lining streets and art punctuating virtually every structure. In fact, the art community has become the third largest art market in the country. The art galleries of Santa Fe are renowned throughout the world. With three distinct arts districts—historic Canyon Road, downtown and the Railyard, there are more than 200 galleries in just two square miles, offering everything from traditional Western and Native art to cutting-edge contemporary work. On tap for post-Balloon Fiesta shopping are two major annual art events.

North of Albuquerque

Not far from Santa Fe and near the Sangre de Cristo Mountains is Pecos National Historical Park with ancestral pueblo and the remains of an adobe mission. However, what makes the park worth visiting is its surprising history.

“Pecos is where the decisive battle of the Civil War (in the west) occurred known as the ‘Gettysburg of the West’,” says the park’s artist in residence Stan Ford. “It also showcases the influence of Native Americans and Spanish explorers. There are over 800 known archaeological sites, Tex Austin’s Forked Lightning Ranch (he is the father of the American rodeo) later owned by Oscar-winning best actress Greer Garson. Garson made a unique donation to the park via President Reagan which resulted in the park being upgraded from national monument status to park status. It also has the most impressive visitor center around.”

Less than 100 miles from Albuquerque is Los Alamos, made world-famous for its secret role in the Manhattan Project which developed the atomic bombs credited with ending World War II. There’s a fascinating self-guided Historic Walking Tour that includes iconic sites from that era, public art, an ancestral Pueblo dwelling dating from 1225 B.C. and the Bradbury Science Museum, with more than 60 interactive exhibits focusing on the Los Alamos National Laboratory. For its 70th anniversary a few years ago, Los Alamos National Laboratory actually opened its top-secret “tunnel vault” for the news media and family of laboratory workers.

From ancient humans to modern visitors, humankind’s mark can be seen everywhere in nearby Bandelier National Monument. The 33,000-acre protected wilderness area on the Pajarito Plateau is filled with petroglyphs, cliff dwellings and remnants of masonry buildings created by ancestral Pueblo peoples thousands of years ago. Short and long trails, ranger-guided hikes, a weekly silent Nightwalk and weekend campfire and night sky programs bring out the magic of the ancient grounds.

Click here for more inspiration on your trip to New Mexico.

Visit the Albuquerque Photographers Gallery in Old Town Albuquerque to view more photos by Stan Ford or visit https://www.fotosbyford.com/