Uplifting fun: Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum offers a plethora of activities during Balloon Fiesta

There is nothing like being on the Balloon Fiesta field as the hot air balloons rise above you, but the view can be just as enjoyable from afar while participating in educational and fun activities at the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum.

The museum has something planned for each day of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

“It is a mix of special, large events, some small talks and museum lectures, some special hands on things and some special exhibitions,” said Laurie Magovern, executive director of the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum Foundation.

Uplifting fun: Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum offers a plethora of activities during Balloon Fiesta

A museum lecture series will range in topics and is included with museum admission.

On Sunday, Oct. 6, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Peter Kubicek of Kubicek Balloons will discuss the rich history of his company. On Monday, Oct. 7, from 11 a.m. to noon, photographer Bryce Risely will lead the lecture, “Zozobra the Balloon: History and a Merging of Cultures.” Risely is currently involved in a multiyear project of collecting images and stories from members of Albuquerque’s hot air ballooning community for his book, “The Albuquerque Balloonist.”

Becky Wigeland, who is the curator at the National Balloon Museum in Indianola, Iowa, will explore the “History of Ballooning in Indianola” from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9. The Fractal Foundation will share its passion for natural patterns, fractals and hot air ballooning that led to the Flying Fractals balloon designs, which have a pattern similar to tie-dye, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 11.

Another family-friendly event is “Balloons in the Sky,” from 7 to 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

“The Balloon Museum holds a story time every Wednesday of the year and we just really focus on families that morning,” Magovern said. “You can see the balloons from the lawn too. And then there’s some extra activities that go along for early childhood, in partnership with Explora and the Balloon Museum. And so that one is fun to come to, and Tuesday and Wednesday are great because traffic is a little less.”

Each day of Balloon Fiesta, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Balloon Museum will be offering a “Virtual Reality Balloon Experience.”

“Ultimately, you come and sit in the chair, they put very nice, sanitized glasses on you, and it takes you through a full balloon ride,” Magovern said. “It’s really nice and it’s included with the museum admission. It’s great to get that experience. And the balloon ride is filmed from Balloon Fiesta, so you get to see the crowds, you get to see what it looks like from a loft, the locations, and so it’s a nice, fun way to experience a balloon ride.”

It is New Mexico Day at the Balloon Museum from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7. New Mexico residents can present a photo ID or utility bill with a New Mexico address at the museum ticket booth for free entry.

Relax and unwind during Yoga + Balloons at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, on the Balloon Museum lawn overlooking the balloon launch at Balloon Fiesta park. Tickets are $40, plus tax, and include the one-hour yoga class, a mimosa or mockmosa, a Balloon Museum parking pass and museum entry. Participants are asked to bring their own yoga mat and hydration.

“S.T.E.A.M. Nights: Floating with Buoyancy,” will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10. The event is an all ages evening of hands-on activities that explore how balloons fly. Live music and food trucks will also be part of the event that is presented in partnership with Be Greater than Average.

Adults can admire the sunset with a drink in hand during the “Lift Your Spirits Craft Cocktail Festival” from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11. The festival, presented by the New Mexico Distillers Guild, will feature New Mexico distilleries mixing signature cocktails and educating guests about their creations and methods. Participating vendors include As Above So Below, Hollow Spirits Distillery, Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery, Marble Brewery, Safe House Distilling Company, Nikle Co., One Distillery, Rolling Still Distillery, Sheehan Winery, Still Spirits, Tractor Brewing/Troubled Minds and Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery. Attendees can also shop local artisans selling a variety of handmade products, grab a bite from several food trucks. Live entertainment will be provided by the Burque Jazz Bandits at 4 p.m., Secret Eagles at 5:20 p.m. and Alex Maryol at 6:50 p.m. Tickets are $10 for ages 21 and older and $5 for designated drivers and age 20 and younger. The Rise to the Occasion ticket is $50 and includes general admission tickets for four guests and one parking pass at the Balloon Museum. For tickets and information, visit balloonmuseum.com.

The Observation Deck, hosted by the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum Foundation, features balcony views overlooking Balloon Fiesta park, a gourmet buffet meal, one drink ticket for adult ticketholders age 21 and older, a cash bar with an option to upgrade to an open bar, a collectible museum pin, VIP amenities and access to the Balloon Museum and Balloon Fiesta Park. Museum parking passes will be issued to ticket holders according to group size.

There will be a morning schedule with museum shuttle service beginning at 5 a.m., dining service at 6 a.m., and wrapping up at 9:30 a.m. The evening schedule kicks off with museum shuttle service at 4 p.m., dining service at 5 p.m. and the event ending at 8:30 p.m.

“Our events are rain or shine, (balloon) launch or no launch,” Magovern said. “So people can still enjoy their food inside of the museum. They can tour the museum. They can relax. So that part is really nice, that it still goes no matter what.”

Tickets are $225, plus fees, per adult with an optional add-on of $50 for open bar; $75, plus fees, for youth ages 7 to 16; and free admission for children age 6 and younger. There will be a discounted breakfast on Wednesday, Oct. 9, with tickets reduced to $200, plus fees, per adult and $50 per youth.

“A portion of the proceeds help support the museum year round,” Magovern said. “We work with local restaurants, M’tucci’s and Slate Street Cafe, it’s the best food on the campus, I think, from all the food that you can get on the field. And then you get access to our balconies and the balcony views, and then we have golf carts where we can take people down to Balloon Fiesta Park from the museum. So it’s this nice VIP experience. And we do that every morning and every evening that balloons fly.”