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A view from Lift-Off Lane

A view from Lift-Off Lane

By Balloon Fiesta

Official podcast of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Join us Oct 2-10, 2021. #BalloonFiesta visit balloonfiesta.com for more information.
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June 1, 2021 – Event Update, Navigators and Media Coverage

A view from Lift-Off LaneJun 03, 2021

00:00
20:58
October 10 - Farewell to 49!
Oct 10, 202110:18
October 9 - The “Box” and the big reveal!
Oct 09, 202109:18
October 8 – Balloon Fiesta Friday, FastTrax Skydiving and Chainsaw Carving
Oct 08, 202115:13
October 7 – Shapes Day! Jeff Bennett and Tall Steve
Oct 06, 202112:49
October 6 – Midweek Mass Ascension, flight of the nations and a “special project”
Oct 06, 202132:53
October 5 – Day 2 of Competition and Landing Spaces
Oct 05, 202132:53
October 4 – Monday Competition and the week ahead
Oct 04, 202108:08
October 3 – Sunday Ascension, Glow and Globitos!
Oct 03, 202132:53
October 2 – Opening day of the 49th Event!
Oct 02, 202132:53
September 17 – X Marks the Spot, RC Balloons Balloon Fiesta Live
Sep 17, 202132:53
September 1 – Event Update and a New World Record!
Sep 01, 202116:37
August 18, 2021 – NM True and Balloon Pins
Aug 18, 202122:16
August 4, 2021 – Event Update and the Official Poster Artist
Aug 05, 202118:21
July 16 – Balloon Fiesta Park 25th anniversary
Jul 17, 202112:46
July 1 – Event Update, Ticketing
Jul 01, 202118:58
June 16 – Meet Ray Bair
Jun 16, 202113:30
June 1, 2021 – Event Update, Navigators and Media Coverage
Jun 03, 202120:58
May 15, 2021 – The # of hot air balloons, Glamping, Gondola Club and Chaser’s Club; Visit ABQ Provides tips on booking your Travel.
May 17, 202144:10
May 3, 2021 – Event update, Paul Smith and Sam Parks discuss the 2021 event

May 3, 2021 – Event update, Paul Smith and Sam Parks discuss the 2021 event

Today’s podcast includes an event updated from the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta’s Executive Director Paul Smith and Director of Operations Sam Parks. The interviews on this podcast were recorded on Friday, April 30th

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta https://balloonfiesta.com

State of New Mexico Department of Health: https://cv.nmhealth.org/public-health-orders-and-executive-orders/

Visit Albuquerque https://www.visitalbuquerque.org

New Mexico True https://www.newmexico.org

Know Before You Go - COVID Information: Status Update, May 3, 2021

May 3, 2021

The 49th Balloon Fiesta will occur in 5 months, launching October 2-10

Planning continues for the 49thAlbuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the nine-day event will launch October2, from Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Tickets will go on sale starting July 2, 2021 on BalloonFiesta.com. The 49thevent has more than 600 hot air balloons registered to participate.

On April 28, 2021, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham updated the Public Health Orders.

“The biggest thing for Balloon Fiesta is the Governor's expectation that we'll have 60 percent of New Mexico inoculated by the end of June,” says Paul Smith, executive director of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. “When that happens the red to green to turquoise framework should go away along with all the capacity restrictions. That means the current guidelines will be much more flexible for events like Balloon Fiesta.”

Even with the current updates to the Public Health Order, Balloon Fiesta’s leadership continues to work with the State of New Mexico to develop COVID Safe Practices (CSPs) that will enable outdoor festivals and in particular Balloon Fiesta to operate safely and within the parameters of those orders.

Among several changes for this year, Sam Parks said guest experience and crowd control will be included. “Concerning the onsite guest experience, we are looking at designing approaches to space out concessionaires around the field,” says Sam Parks, director of operations for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. “We are also looking at spreading out the popular special shape balloons around the 70-acre launch field, so not to have them all inflate on the same part of the park.”

The next update will be posted on BalloonFiesta.com on Tuesday, June 1, 2021.

May 03, 202114:05
April 15, 2021 - Balloon Fiesta conversations with Matt Guthrie, Laurie Riedle, Stephanie Prendergast and Amanda Molina.
Apr 15, 202125:09
April 2 Event Update, 600+ Hot Air Balloons and a preview of the biggest "little" event at the 49th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

April 2 Event Update, 600+ Hot Air Balloons and a preview of the biggest "little" event at the 49th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The inaugural episode of the Balloon Fiesta Podcast A view from Lift-Off Lane features insights from Paul Smith, the executive director of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and Sam Parks, the Director of Operations for the Balloon Fiesta.  We are still a little more than 180 days out from October 2nd, 2021 when the 49th Balloon Fiesta will launch to the skies over Albuquerque, New Mexico.  In this episode, we want to connect you with the event’s leadership so you can hear first-hand about the plans for the 49th event. Interviews in today’s podcast were conducted on March 31, 2021.

Balloon Fiesta Event Update – April 2, 2021

The 49th Balloon Fiesta will launch in 6 months launching October 2-10.

Balloon Fiesta’s leadership has been working with the State of New Mexico to develop COVID Safe Practices (CSPs) that will enable outdoor festivals and in particular Balloon Fiesta to operate safely.

As always, Balloon Fiesta is committed to provide a safe opportunity to enjoy the balloons. Our leadership is working to understand and adhere to the State of New Mexico’s Public Health Orders.

The event staff, with guidance from medical professionals, have identified and will continue to discover public health measures that will be needed based on existing and anticipated requirements for our Event. We plan to provide that information by the time tickets go on sale July 2, 2021. The measures will continue to be updated as conditions evolve.

In preparation for our Mass Ascension® launch on October 2, Balloon Fiesta officials are finalizing the list of pilots who will be invited to fly in the 49th event. The event is on track to launch more than 600 hot air balloons during the nine-day event.

About the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta presented by Canon is an annual festival of hot air balloons that takes place every October in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. It is the largest gathering of balloons and balloonists in the world. For details on events, schedule, entertainment and photographs visit our website www.balloonfiesta.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @BalloonFiesta .

Apr 01, 202118:11