Up, Up and Away! Come visit Albuquerque and experience firsthand the spectacular Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. More than 800 balloons participate in this event that has become the premier balloon festival in the country. Each day a mass ascension at dawn fills the skies over Albuquerque with hundreds of balloons of all shapes and sizes, while the evening "glow" showcases the balloons in the light of their own fires. We begin our five days in Albuquerque at the balloon festival and then take time to visit Santa Fe and the surrounding mountains. If you're interested, you can experience the thrill of riding in a hot air balloon. What fun!