This Year's International Balloon Festival In New Mexico To Take Place During Solar Eclipse
By Melissa Mahoney|Published September 06, 2023
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Melissa Mahoney
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I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and I love photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world! Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream.
As if the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta wasn’t spectacular enough, it’s happening during the annular solar eclipse this October. A much-anticipated celestial event and the largest hot air balloon festival in the world happening at the same time? Sign me up!
This year's much-anticipated Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will occur between October 7-15, 2023. During the event, there will be hot air balloon rides, competitions, music, entertainment, balloon glows, drone light shows, and so much more.
This is an incredibly fun festival that attracts more than 800,000 attendees from all around the world each year. There's no event quite as colorful and magical as the Balloon Festival here in Albuquerque.
Falling within the Balloon Fiesta's timeframe is the annular solar eclipse. This rare celestial phenomenon occurs when the moon, at its furthest distance from Earth, passes between the Sun and the Earth.
When this type of eclipse happens, a mesmerizing ring of fire is created in the sky. It's a spectacular thing to witness and will be happening during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta on October 14, 2023, sometime after 9 a.m.
While the annular eclipse is happening, the festival has big plans for a balloon glow that will include over 70 hot air balloons. The eclipse will last under 5 minutes but it will sure be an exciting 5 minutes.
Just imagine witnessing hundreds of colorful hot air balloons all aglow at the same time as the annular solar eclipse. It will be an event to remember!
Just make sure to wear protective eyewear to safely view the eclipse. NASA will be giving away 80,000 pairs of glasses during the Ballon Fiesta on the day of the eclipse.
So, will you attend the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta this year during the annular solar eclipse on October 14? Or are you heading somewhere else to watch the solar eclipse? Let us know! For more information and to purchase tickets, head to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta website.
