Albuquerque Balloon Festival September 15, 2018, 12:11:49 pm is anyone out there planning on going to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival this year? The dates are October 6 to 14th. We usually go to the Prosser Washington balloon festival which is usually around now but this year is at the end of the month. Karen~Liam 98 ~ MB NinA
Re: Albuquerque Balloon Festival Reply #1 – September 16, 2018, 06:22:17 pm Yep thinking about...lots of cool balloons people and local activities
Re: Albuquerque Balloon Festival Reply #2 – September 16, 2018, 07:52:20 pm "...lots of cool balloons people and local activities."If you travel on your stomach, as I do, you will want to visit 'Murphy's Mule Barn'. West bound down the hill on Alameda from the Balloon Park, turn right on 2nd St., go one and a half blocks to Murphy's on your right. You won't be sorry, many of the balloon crews eat there. 3 Likes
Re: Albuquerque Balloon Festival Reply #3 – September 16, 2018, 09:09:46 pm “Yep thinking about...lots of cool balloons people and local activities” Jefferson, are you sure you can handle the fast pace action of a ballon race? 😉My sister certainly wants me to take her but my DW would be heartbroken if she didn’t get first dibs on that trip. This retirement stuff can complicate travel but it sure has its perks. There’s always the ballon festival up Greg’s way. Think that’ll have to do til I can schedule a trip to New Mexico with the little lady. It’s about time I checked out his driveway anyway. 🧐Kent 1 Likes
Re: Albuquerque Balloon Festival Reply #4 – September 17, 2018, 12:28:06 pm I checked the website and there are still places at the park for RVs but now mostly during the week, weekends are full. Apparently the RV overnight parking in the park is within close walking distance. We will travel through Oregon, Idaho then hangout in Utah and Colorado before we go to Albuquerque. This one has been on our list for a long time! Karen~Liam 98 ~ MB NinA 1 Likes
Re: Albuquerque Balloon Festival Reply #5 – September 17, 2018, 06:35:33 pm "Apparently the RV overnight parking in the park is within close walking distance."Yes and yes! Depending on your point of reference. There is a section fully within the Balloon Park where you can camp but reservations are very hard to come by. On the other hand, in what was once a land-fill just south of the park (on the other side of Alameda) is a huge area where thousands of RVs are parked. Once upon a time when we had volunteer Ramrods to do the organizing Lazy Daze folks had exclusive rights to rows 3 and 4, just about the most advantageous location available. Those were the good old days. All that separates these two areas is the Alameda, across which you could walk to the park or ride the free shuttle which came around on a regular basis, to and fro. 4 Likes
Re: Albuquerque Balloon Festival Reply #6 – September 17, 2018, 10:45:14 pm Last year I was considering going to the Balloon Fiesta and saw that the dry camping lot, which was NEVER full the two or three years before, was full on the weekends. So, I looked at just parking at Sandia Casino nearby on weekends, but saw that they had started charging people to park their RVs in their parking lot (big bucks - more than they charged at the balloon fiesta). So, I guess people opted to park at the fiesta rather than the casino which is probably why the fiesta RV parking filled up. I think another casino in Albuquerque was also charging for RVs to park in their lot. Casino parking was free until last year. I did write to the gal who handled the RV reservations at the balloon fiesta and she told me to check back online the following day because they had a lot of cancellations and would be updating the website later that day. So check back if you find there are no sites available now. Or drop them a line. The price increased last year from $30 to $35 a night. Their website now says that there will be a price increase for 2019, but it didn't say how much. If you've never been, I highly recommend going at least once.Nancy McKennaformer owner of '98 FLcurrently in North Haven, CT 2 Likes
Re: Albuquerque Balloon Festival Reply #7 – September 18, 2018, 02:28:40 am We saw spaces available during the week at fiesta park this past weekend but when we tried to reserve them this morning they were all gone and as it turns out they were all gone a month ago, there was a glitch in the website which showed some spaces available. Now we are trying to figure where to stay this year since we will be going with other friends. Karen~Liam 98 ~ MB NinA
Re: Albuquerque Balloon Festival Reply #8 – September 18, 2018, 10:39:20 am If you are Military Affiliated you might want to try the FamCamp at Kirtland AFB!U.S. Military Campgrounds and RV Parks - Kirtland AFB FamCamp 1 Likes
Re: Albuquerque Balloon Festival Reply #9 – September 18, 2018, 02:21:43 pm Thanks Steve for the info, I have many friends in the military however I never joined. This event is very popular and most places that are reservable are reserved already. Karen~Liam 98 ~ MB NinA
Re: Albuquerque Balloon Festival Reply #10 – September 18, 2018, 04:21:22 pm I know 'the' Casino has been mentioned... Sandia, but there are several more in the area, including Route 66 Casino west of the city.Albuquerque Casinos - Google Search
Re: Albuquerque Balloon Festival Reply #11 – September 19, 2018, 08:16:02 pm One more time for you foodies!This is a prime jewel, I'd like to have the money I've left behind here over the years. New Mexican Restaurant Albuquerque | Sadie's of New Mexico 3 Likes
Re: Albuquerque Balloon Festival Reply #12 – October 11, 2018, 09:27:44 pm So we are here at the Albuquerque balloon festival, we arrived Tuesday and went to the standard dry camping a next to the grounds run by the festival. We were told that they were letting in a few drive-up first come first serve people so we camped the first night in line waiting to GE in and the next day got in. They have free shuttles from the campsites or you can walk about a half mile depending where you are camping. We have herd that there is somewhere between 1500 to 3000 RV here depending on who you talk with. We are here with another couple who brought their SOB and got in the same way.Anybody else here? Stop buy, we are in a Blue 98 ~ MB near check in. Karen~Liam 98 ~ MB NinA 2 Likes