Balloons alight, but not aloft, on opening day of fiesta

Opening Day of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Oct 5, 2025

Wind kept balloons grounded on opening day for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, but there was still much to experience for the thousands who made the trip to the launch field.

Thirteen balloons performed a static glow for crowds starting at 6 a.m. Saturday. Once the sun rose, casting the colors of dawn over the Sandia Mountains, more balloons lit their burners for a static display to the delight of attendees huddled in the chilly air.

Despite the failure to launch, eventgoers still wandered the field and booths, enjoying everything else the fiesta had to offer, including the singing of the national anthem, the Chile Flight — a flyover from single-engine propeller aircraft — and comedian Chelsea Handler made an appearance for a static ride on the Gold Bond balloon.

The 53rd annual event, with more than 500 hot air balloon pilots representing 12 countries, runs through Sunday, Oct. 12.

Lucinda Williams, who came to the field bright an early Saturday, said she was disappointed the balloons did not launch, but still found joy in the events that did happen.

“I was here when they first started from the anthem and the flyover and it’s just a moment of joy,” Williams said. “The skies were beautiful with that alpine, pinky, rosy glow. It was just amazing.”

Jennifer Shoemake, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, said wind gusts Saturday morning reached 25 to 30 mph on the ground, which is why the balloons did not launch.

“If the balloons took off, they would have been racing to the north, which is just unsafe for flying,” Shoemake said.

According to fiesta regulations, winds exceeding 10 mph, visibility less than 3 miles, clouds below 1,500 feet and rain can delay or cancel the launch.

Balloon pilot Ralph Keyser, who has flown in the balloon fiesta for 36 years, said he was disappointed not to go up, but ultimately, it’s about safety.

“We have the biggest crowds, and there’s a lot of energy the very first day, so it’s always disappointing, but we’re always interested in being safe,” Keyser said. “And the wind today is very strong.”

Saturday evening the Twilight Twinkle Glow was cancelled after winds refused to let up. But Shoemake said conditions appeared favorable for the mass ascension set to launch Sunday morning.

Keyser said he is optimistic about flying throughout the rest of the fiesta despite some rain predicted early next week.

“Fiesta is long enough that we we generally get some good flying in regardless of the weather,” Keyser said.