Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta from the air: 45 pictures from above the park
Elizabeth Tucker Elizabeth TuckerElizabeth Tucker Journal Staff Writer
PublishedModified
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is an awe-inspiring event from the field, but from the air it becomes an entirely different experience.
Away from the crowds and announcers, the air is quiet and peaceful around you with only the sound of burners or the occasional helicopter drone in the distance.
The sunshine is warmer on your face in the air than it is on the ground, and you don't feel the breeze as it pushes the balloon through the air.
Fiesta from above
More pictures from the Balloon Fiesta
Photo galleries of the 2023 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Diane Mielk of Santa Baraba, CA, holds the special shapes tiger envelope open during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
The envelope of the special shapes tiger balloon during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Pilot, Mark MacSkimming of Hershey, PA, inflates the envelope of the special shapes tiger balloon during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Diane Mielk of Santa Baraba, CA, holds the special shapes tiger open as the pilot, Mark MacSkimming of Hershey, PA, inflates the envelope during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Mark MacSkimming, a pilot from Hershy, PA, is interviewed by Alyssa Munoz of KOAT 7 inside the envelope of the special shapes tiger during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Pilot Mark MacSkimming inflates the special shapes tiger during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Mark MacSkimming of Hershey, PA, prepares to fly the special shapes tiger balloon as chase crew members Rocky Schone and Diane Mielk, both from California, hold down the balloon waiting for Zebra Glenn Young of Corrales to give the signal during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Mark MacSkimming pilots the tiger special shape balloon as balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Balloons fill the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
The special shapes tiger comes in for landing during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
Volunteers help pack away the special shapes tiger after it landed during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7, 2023 (Elizabeth Tucker / Albuquerque Journal)
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