The 2021 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta took off Saturday morning without a hitch. Pictured is launch director Nicole Tagart giving the thumbs up to a pilot indicating the all clear for lift off. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
A balloon lifts off during the Thursday, Oct. 7, mass ascension. (Nadav Soroker/For the Albuquerque Journal)
A flock of sandhill cranes takes off from a field along Rio Grande Blvd as balloons begin to land nearby Wednesday morning, Oct. 6. (Roberto E.Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
Richard Fischer and Victoria Lebredo take a selfie together during the Dawn Patrol on Thursday, Oct. 7. (Nadav Soroker/For The Albuquerque Journal)
A balloon stands up as sunrise breaks through the clouds on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. (Nadav Soroker/ For the Albuquerque Journal)
Zebra Laura Virgin gives the go ahead for a balloon to lift off on Wednesday, Oct. 6. (Nadav Soroker/For the Albuquerque Journal)
Pilot Jordan Long takes up his Rainbow Ryders balloon on Wednesday, Oct. 6. (Nadav Soroker/For the Albuquerque Journal)
Sandhill cranes fly by balloons near the bosque along Rio Grande Blvd Wednesday morning Oct. 6. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
Mariah Martinez and Evan Rodriguez lay on the grass as the sun rises at the end of Dawn Patrol on Wednesday, Oct. 6. Wednesday saw a damp and grounded dawn patrol as the last of a storm system delayed the morning ascension. (Nadav Soroker/For the Albuquerque Journal)
Karen Dolack, of Philadelphia, records as Mike Johnson in the RV Life Balloon raises the American Flag on Wednesday, Oct. 6. (Nadav Soroker/For the Albuquerque Journal)
Pilot Jordan Long stands up his Rainbow Ryders balloon on Wednesday, Oct. 6. (Nadav Soroker/For the Albuquerque Journal)
Tom Keller rides in his solo Tommy Lift Balloon above Albuquerque, NM on Tuesday, Oct. 05. (Mike Sandoval/ ForbThe Albuquerque Journal)
A hot-air balloon flies over the Rio Grande in Albuquerque on Tuesday, Oct. 05. (Mike Sandoval /For the Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the sky above northeast Albuquerque on Tuesday, Oct. 05,. (Mike Sandoval/ For The Albuquerque Journal)
A Balloon is reflected in the shallow waters of the Rio Grande Monday morning near the Rio Bravo bridge. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
A new FAA rule would prohibit hot air balloons from flying over major portions of Albuquerque, including the Downtown area, like these pilots during the 2021 Balloon Fiesta. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
Balloon Fiesta attendees pet horses ridden by APD's Mounted Patrol Unit on Monday, Oct. 4. (Mike Sandoval/For the Albuquerque Journal)
Pilot Frank Anger fires his burner in unison with fellow pilots during the balloon glow on Sunday, Oct. 3. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)
A balloon crew waves to the crowd moments after launching at the 2021 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The fiesta had been on a one year hiatus due to COVID. (Adria Malcoln for the Journal)
Dawn Patrol balloons light up on the field on Sunday/ (Adria Malcolm/For The Albuquerque Journal)
Zebra Kat Perea gives the thumbs up for a flight on Sunday, Oct 3. This is Perea's twelfth year as a zebra for the fiesta. (Adria Malcolm/The Albuquerque Journal)
Shadows are seen through the envelope of a balloon at on Sunday, Oct. 3. (Adria Malcolm/For The Albuquerque Journal)
Karen Hess and Vicki Fry of Austin and Bob and Toni Crummett of Portalnd watch as a balloon prepares to take flight on Sunday, Oct. 3. (Adria Malcolm/For The Albuquerque Journal)
A kid in a bacon costume runs under Pigasus as Tyler Jacques pumps the gas during the Twilight Twinkle Glow on the first night of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. During the Glow many of the balloons are inflated and lit up as the sun goes down. Nadav Soroker for the Albuquerque Journal
Fankie Martinez lights up the Raks Building Supply balloon for the Twilight Twinkle Glow on the first night of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. During the Glow many of the balloons are inflated and lit up as the sun goes down. Nadav Soroker for the Albuquerque Journal
Pone Russ, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, talks with a new friend while a fleet of hot air balloons flies in the distance during the first night of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. Russ dropped down to see the Fiesta while visiting his father in Santa Fe. Nadav Soroker for the Albuquerque Journal
The 2021 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta took off this morning without a hitch. Pictured are balloons inflating for the mass ascension Saturday morning. Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
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Festive colors and the roar of propane burners once again filled the sky as hundreds of hot air balloons returned for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which had been put on hold for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thousands of people made their way to Balloon Fiesta Park for what was the 49th event, witnessing the spectacle of mass ascensions, balloon glows, flying competitions, fireworks shows and other entertainment. Many spent time enjoying the offerings from the wide array of merchandise and food vendors.
The weather also played a role in the success of the nine-day fiesta, providing mostly ideal flying conditions for the 548 registered balloons, 48 of them special shapes, and the pilots who came from across the United States, as well as from Brazil, Canada, France, Mexico, Netherlands and Switzerland.
