Memory making and family traditions are important for building strong unity within the walls of your home – especially when you are a blended family. It is critical.
Six years ago I ventured to my husband’s hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico for the first time and had the amazing opportunity to see the International Balloon Fiesta where hundreds of balloonists come in to compete in different events and has taken place every year since 1972.
Since that visit six years ago, I’ve been back two more times, bringing my son and now my 4 year old, rounding out the elements of a family tradition. I am sure we will be back again.
If you have never heard of this International Balloon Fiesta – you’ll want to check it out and perhaps even put it on your bucket list! My photos will not do it justice – by any means – but they are great memories for our family and I wanted to share with you things from my view point.
Being on the field when hundreds of balloons are blown up right in front of your eyes and lift off a matter of feet from you is amazing.
This year was especially fun and I hope you enjoy the photos I could share here. If you are looking for some really incredible photos please check out their Facebook page or their website. It is certainly an event to try to make it to with your family.
When you arrive at the field it is VERY early and dark! {5:00 AM} At around 6:30 AM the first few balloonists take to the sky to check the winds – they are the DAWN patrol.
From the website: The Dawn Patrol began at Balloon Fiesta in 1978, when two California balloonists developed position lighting systems that allowed them to fly at night. Dawn Patrol pilots take off in the dark and fly until it is light enough to see landing sites. Fellow balloonists appreciate the Dawn Patrol because they can watch the balloons and get an early idea of wind speeds and directions at different altitudes. On mass ascension days, about a dozen Dawn Patrol balloons perform the Dawn Patrol Show, a choreographed inflation and launch set to music that has been part of the Balloon Fiesta since 1996. Dawn Patrol inflations begin, weather permitting, at about 5:45 AM, with launch around 6:00 AM.
The balloons are cold inflated with fans and then get stood up by using a burner- which also ends up lighting the balloon up creating a really incredible sight in the early morning hours. They take a different sort of beauty.
It truly is amazing as you stand and balloons are being inflated all around you – literally ALL around you!!
I stood at the end of this balloon as they began inflating it, from the basket base. They use big fans to begin inflating and it takes only about 5-10 minutes to get the air in it and begin to take shape.
One of our favorite times is during the special shapes inflation! There are so many incredibly shaped balloons – it makes it a favorite for the kids {I loved the special shapes too!}
We had the extremely privilege to stand right next to the POW*MIA ballon while their team inflated it. My four year old was invited into the balloon basket to pretend like he was flying – a one of a time experience for sure!! We watched the process from start to finish and waved them off as they went on their way.
What special family traditions have you kept alive?
