The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta: The World's Great Sky Party
Six hundred balloons, hundreds of thousands of spectators, and nine mornings that turn the desert sky into a canvas. Your complete guide to the Fiesta.
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Events & Festivals
Balloons at dawn, feast days, and the calendar's brightest gatherings.
Music on the Plaza: Santa Fe's Free Summer Soundtrack
All summer, the Santa Fe Plaza bandstand fills the evenings with free live music, from mariachi to jazz. A guide to the city's most democratic tradition.
Balloons Over the Rio Grande: Ballooning Beyond the Fiesta
The Fiesta is the headline, but Albuquerque's balloons fly all year. A look at the everyday ballooning that floats over the river valley in every season.
Mass Ascension: When Hundreds of Balloons Rise Together
The signature moment of the Balloon Fiesta is a coordinated launch of hundreds of balloons at once. Here's what it's actually like to stand beneath it.
The Grand Finale: New Mexico's Festival Fireworks Traditions
From county fairs to town fiestas, the fireworks finale is a summer ritual across the state. A celebration of the humble, joyful community sky-show.
Dawn Patrol: The Balloons That Fly Before Sunrise
Before the crowds and the main launch, a handful of balloons ascend in the dark to test the winds. The Dawn Patrol is the Fiesta's quiet, magical secret.
Market Day: The Weekly Ritual of the Santa Fe Farmers Market
Roasted chile in fall, heirloom everything in summer, and growers who've farmed the same valleys for generations. The market is New Mexico's best weekly event.
Fireworks and Green Chile: The Fourth of July, New Mexico Style
Small-town parades, mountain-backed fireworks, and roasted chile on the grill. How New Mexico celebrates Independence Day across its plazas and mesas.
Under the Stars: New Mexico's Outdoor Concert Season
From amphitheaters carved into the foothills to winery lawns, the state's outdoor music venues turn summer nights into something magical. Where to catch a show.
The Special Shape Rodeo: When the Sky Gets Silly
Giant bees, floating castles, and a balloon shaped like a dinosaur. The Fiesta's Special Shape Rodeo is pure joy, and a favorite with families.
Taking Flight: What Your First Balloon Ride Is Really Like
Floating silently over the Rio Grande valley at sunrise is a bucket-list experience. Here's how to book one, and what to expect once you leave the ground.
The Rise of the High-Desert Music Festival
Multi-day festivals set against mesas and mountains are booming across New Mexico. A look at the gatherings turning the landscape itself into a stage.
Zozobra: Watching Old Man Gloom Go Up in Flames
Each fall, Santa Fe burns a fifty-foot marionette stuffed with people's worries. The fiery, cathartic spectacle of Zozobra is like nothing else in America.
The Balloon Glow: Giant Lanterns After Dark
When grounded balloons light their burners in unison after sunset, the field turns into a forest of glowing lanterns. The Balloon Glow is the Fiesta's quiet showstopper.
Ringing in the New Year Under Desert Skies
From Plaza fireworks to quiet mountain retreats, New Mexico offers a New Year's Eve for every temperament — often under some of the clearest skies in the country.
Farolitos and Fine Craft: New Mexico's Holiday Markets
As winter arrives, the plazas fill with artisan markets glowing under strings of farolitos. A guide to holiday shopping the New Mexican way.
From Thirteen Balloons to Six Hundred: A Short History of the Fiesta
The world's biggest balloon event started as a radio-station stunt with a handful of balloons. How Albuquerque became the ballooning capital of the world.
Harvest Festivals: Celebrating the Chile at Its Peak
When the chile ripens each fall, New Mexico throws a party. From Hatch to the northern villages, the harvest festival is the state's most delicious event.