A view from Lift-Off Lane

The Season 49 Finale includes a look at the Schedule for the Farewell Mass Ascension. We will also hear from many of the members from the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta’s Board of Directors. We will get their thoughts on the 49th event, the “Big Reveal” of the 50th Hot Air Balloon and the 49th event. Websites mentioned in this episode include: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta https://balloonfiesta.com Balloon Fiesta Ticket Information:...

The weather for the previous seven days of Balloon Fiesta has been fantastic. Today on a View from Lift Off Lane, we will review the morning and afternoon schedule. We will also get a sneak preview of the big reveal that will be happening at Balloon Fiesta today as well as speak with a Balloon Fiesta pilot about his great flight in Albuquerque that took him throughout the Rio Grande valley and brought his special shape back to Balloon Fiesta Park. In this episode, we speak with Balloon...

Balloon Fiesta Friday means a little bit of everything our guests enjoy. A launch, competition, special shapes, skydivers and chainsaw carving. Matt Harvey with Team FastTrax and Jason Emmons with Bear Hollow Carvers are interviewed in this episode. Websites mentioned in this episode include: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta https://balloonfiesta.com Balloon Fiesta Ticket Information: https://balloonfiesta.com/Purchase-Tickets Balloon Fiesta Chainsaw Carving...

It is Shapes Day!! This episode will focus on all things related to Special Shape Balloons at the 49thAlbuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Special shapes will launch from Balloon Fiesta Park during the Special Shape Rodeo™ and participate in a static display during the evening Special Shape Glowdeo™. This year’s event features 84 special shapes, 10 of which are making their inaugural appearance at Balloon Fiesta. Websites mentioned in this episode include: Albuquerque International...

Today on a view from Liftoff Lane it is the 24th Flight of the Nations and Mid-week Mass ascension. We will take a look at the schedule and then speak with Jennifer Garcia with Balloon Fiesta about the Flight of the Nations and then we will hear from Andy Baird the owner and general manager of Cameron Balloons. Websites mentioned in this episode include: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta https://balloonfiesta.com Balloon Fiesta Ticket Information:...

Tuesday is the second day of competition. This episode will briefly address the flying events and include an interview with Albuquerque City Councilor Brook Bassan about her work with the City of Albuquerque Balloon Landing Task Force. Websites mentioned in this episode include: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta https://balloonfiesta.com Balloon Fiesta Ticket Information: https://balloonfiesta.com/Purchase-Tickets Balloon Fiesta Chainsaw Carving...

Today on a view from Liftoff Lane we will take a look at the schedule for the first day of competition. We will get some insight on the competition, talk about the first weekend and look ahead at what the week holds. Balloon Fiesta’s Sam Parks is our guest. Websites mentioned in this episode include: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta https://balloonfiesta.com Balloon Fiesta Ticket Information: https://balloonfiesta.com/Purchase-Tickets Balloon Fiesta Chainsaw Carving...

The first Sunday of the 49th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is filled with a lot of activity. In this episode of a View from Lift Off Lane, we will discuss today’s events and hear from the Balloonmeister Henry Rosenbaum and Chief Weather Officer Brad Temeyer. Websites mentioned in this episode include: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta https://balloonfiesta.com Balloon Fiesta Ticket Information: https://balloonfiesta.com/Purchase-Tickets Balloon Fiesta Chainsaw Carving...

The first of nine event podcasts to let provide you an insiders perspective of what will be happening on each day at Balloon Fiesta! Today, it its opening day at the 49th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta! This podcasts will include insights from Balloon Fiesta’s President of the Board of Directors Matt Guthrie, the Event’s Executive Director Paul Smith, Public Safety Director Sean Wallace and the Albuquerque Police Department’s Lt. Michael Meisinger. Also, this podcast will provide...

September 17 – X Marks the Spot, RC Balloons Balloon Fiesta Live In almost two weeks, the 49th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will launch into the turquoise Albuquerque skies! This episode includes a preview of the X Marks the spot program, a great way for New Mexico residents to get involved with this year’s event. We will also have a conversation with the Balloon Meister of the worlds smallest balloon event… the Remote Control Balloons that will be launching as a part of three...

Thirty days from today, September 1, 2021, the 49th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will launch into the turquoise Albuquerque skies! There are a lot of items on the minds of event leadership, staff, pilots and guests; top of mind is the delta variant and what impacts, if any, will it have on the 2021 event. This episode includes an event update from Balloon Fiesta’s Executive Director Paul Smith and Event director Sam Parks. This episode will also discuss a newly certified Guinness...

This podcast will feature an interview with New Mexico Tourism Secretary Jen Schroer. We had a chance to catch up with the busy Tourism Secretary about the 2021 Balloon Fiesta. Her insights on the event and New Mexico True activities when the balloons land will be our first story. Next to the amazing nine days of mass ascensions, one of the items that makes Balloon Fiesta so memorable are the balloon pins! The event’s resident expert, balloon pin collector is Ty Young. Later in our podcast,...

This podcast includes an event update from director of operations Sam Parks. He will review the “Know Before You Go” information posted on BalloonFiesta.com. Also, the first official posters of what would become the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta featured the Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote cartoon characters. Today, the Balloon Fiesta poster is one of the many great collectable items sold through BalloonFiestaStuff.com. In this podcast, poster artist Daniel Killen, in his own...

July 16 – Balloon Fiesta Park 25th anniversary This podcast will feature a narrative from writer Dick Brown, a member of the Balloon Fiesta Heritage Committee. He will share his insights from an article he wrote for the 49th Balloon Fiesta’s Official Program. The article, titled Balloon Fiesta Park 25th Anniversary highlights the different launch sites around Albuquerque. It also includes a nice trip down memory lane about one of Balloon Fiesta’s founders, Sid Cutter. The interviews were...

On Today’s podcast, we will receive an event update from the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta’s Executive Director Paul Smith and Director of Operations Sam Parks about the 49th Balloon Fiesta. We will discuss the events and some insights on the kind of COVID Safe Practices you might see at this year’s event. Also, tickets for all events go on sale 9am, July 2nd at BalloonFiesta.com. We speak with Balloon Fiesta’s Erica Hahn about the process and what information ready when you log...

On Today’s podcast, we will introduce you to someone who has flown special shape balloons, coordinated balloon safety for the event and is a past president and current member of the Balloon Fiesta Board of directors. Today, a conversation with Balloon Pilot Ray Bair. July 2nd is the day tickets go on sale for the 2021 event. It all happens at Balloon Fiesta.com, look for the link in the show notes. In our next episode, we will have a preview of what you need to know before logging on to buy...

Today’s podcast includes an event update from the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta’s Director of Operations Sam Parks, Navigator lead Jennifer Schurman and Amanda Molina from the media team. The interviews on this podcast were recorded on May 27 & 28, 2021 Websites mentioned in this episode include: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta https://balloonfiesta.com Balloon Fiesta Ticket Information: https://balloonfiesta.com/Purchase-Tickets To learn more about the Navigator...

Today’s podcast includes interviews with the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta’s Associate Event Director Jennifer Garcia and Shamaine Giannini who coordinates the guest experience for Gondola Club, Chasers' Club & Glamping. Also, we have a special guest, the President and CEO of Visit Albuquerque Tania Armenta. Ms. Armenta will give is some great ideas when you are booking travel, lodging and activities that complement Balloon Fiesta. The interviews on this podcast were recorded on...

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...

Welcome to Season 49, Episode 2 of the Balloon Fiesta Podcast, a view from Lift Off Lane. This is Tom Garrity with Balloon Fiesta. Today’s podcast will include a conversation with Matt Guthrie, he is a balloon pilot and president of the Balloon Fiesta Board of Directors. When was Matt’s first balloon fiesta? The answer might surprise you! The show will also introduce you to Balloon Fiesta’s sponsorship team … the dynamic duo of Laurie and Stephanie… they will share a little bit about...