The International Balloon Festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico

When one thinks about being in flight, rarely do they ever think about being aboard a hot air balloon, but there was a time when it was considered a viable mode of transportation. The original hot air balloon, which has been around for centuries, was the brainchild of the Montgolfier brothers and was the first aircraft to ever successfully transport people, from one location to another.

Of course, with of today’s aviation technology, hot air balloons are viewed as a piece of nostalgia, as opposed to a viable mode of transportation; however, they still help us to understand, and better appreciate flight technology. If you’re interested in experiencing what it was like to ride a hot air balloon in the 1700’s, the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival may be worth attending. The festival is held for nine days during the month of October (7th thru the 15th) in Balloon Fiesta Park and features upwards of 500 balloon lifts. If you have never attended the event, it is a glorious spectacle, being able to witness hundreds of colorful balloons fill the sky.

In addition to all of the beautiful balloons, the festival will also include art and craft shows, performing arts, museum exhibits, corn mazes, and much more. If you ready to witness history in motion, be sure to attend this year’s festival; there will be morning and evening sessions that run until about 8 pm, so there really is no reason to miss out on all of the fun.