This beautiful festival has been taking place in New Mexico for over 40 years, this year being one of the biggest yet! This past weekend, more than 600 balloons took to the skies. The Balloon Fiesta is a nine day event that wrapped up this past weekend with plenty of events. One of my favorites is "Dawn Patrol." This event involves two balloons that are lit from the inside that ascend before the sunrise. They check the landing sights and wind conditions for the rest of the balloons. The most famous event is by far the Mass Ascension. This is when all of the balloons are released at the same time, creating a rainbow effect about the New Mexican fields. These are where, in my opinion, the most beautiful photos come from :) There are also competitions such as The Fiesta Challenge, a game where balloonists attempt to drop a marker closest to a target. A really moving event is the The Flight of the Nations Mass Ascension, where balloonists from each nation launch, one at a time, to their national anthem and waving their nation's flag. If you have the time in October one year, make it a point to see this yourself. It's a beautiful festival!
