Balloon Fiesta wraps up, and the museum gets a big contribution

Cooperative weather and the ability to stick to the program as scheduled were highlights for this year’s Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Balloon Fiesta spokesperson Tom Garrity told the Journal on Sunday, the event’s final day, that for the first time “in anyone’s recent memory” there were no event cancellations during the event.

“There are times with warmer weather you get concerned about afternoon winds impacting events, but that turned out not to be the case,” Garrity said. “It allowed us to get the events off the ground.”

The event began on Oct. 5. Garrity said official attendance numbers will be announced later this month.

Things went pretty well — but not perfectly — during the event.

On Saturday, a hot air balloon partially caught fire after hitting power lines while landing in a construction zone. Garrity said the fire was “quickly extinguished” and only affected the balloon’s envelope.

This was the fifth reported incident involving a balloon since Monday. The other four incidents included at least three in which a balloon collided with an object — a tree in Rio Rancho, power lines in the North Valley, and a radio tower west of Balloon Fiesta Park, knocking down the tower.

The pilot and passengers were uninjured in the crash and were able to land safely, but the radio station, KKOB, was off the air until Saturday.

Other Fiesta-related items include:

Museum playscape donation: The Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum received a $250,000 donation from Greg Winker and Ted Winker to go toward a new outdoor playscape.

Their father, Jim Winker, was posthumously inducted into the Féderation Aéronautique Internationale Ballooning Commission Hall of Fame in 2021. His engineering innovations, sport ballooning regulatory achievements, and dedication to preserving the history of ballooning have left an indelible mark on the sport, according to the city.

“My father, Jim Winker, was not only a pioneer in ballooning but also a staunch supporter of future generations exploring this incredible sport,” Greg said in a statement. “This donation reflects our family’s commitment to carrying on his legacy and inspiring a new wave of balloon pilots and ballooning enthusiasts.”

Located along the North Diversion Channel, the new outdoor exhibit “promises to enhance the visitor experience like never before,” city Arts and Culture spokesperson Tanya Lenti said.

Lenti said the playscape will feature an elevated walkway with engaging educational nodes centered around hot air and gas ballooning. Guests will be able to wander through a half-inflated hot air balloon, test their skills at competitive ballooning, and step inside the capsule of a stratospheric gas balloon.

“The Winker family’s generous donation will play a pivotal role in bringing the Flight of Imagination Outdoor Playscape to life, creating a space where visitors can engage with the world of ballooning in uplifting and educational ways,” Balloon Museum Manager Nan Masland said.

‘Fly without disruption’: Earlier this year, as part of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act, the FAA changed a policy that would have grounded hot air balloon flights and caused disruptions to the Balloon Fiesta.

“The annual Balloon Fiesta is a vital part of New Mexico’s culture and economy that brings thousands of visitors to our state from around the world,” Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., said in a statement. “Over the years, I’ve worked to keep New Mexico as the hot air balloon capital of the world and let the balloons fly without disruption. I am proud to have worked with my colleagues during FAA Reauthorization negotiations to protect our cherished tradition of hot air ballooning that is on full display at this year’s Balloon Fiesta.”