54th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Takes Off With 500-Plus Balloons
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The 54th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta lifted off on Oct. 3 at Balloon Fiesta Park, with more than 500 balloons of all shapes and colors filling the New Mexico sky, TravelAndTourWorld reported. This year's nine-day festival runs through Oct. 11.
On opening morning, tens of thousands of spectators packed the park for the Dawn Patrol and the spectacular Mass Ascension. As balloon after balloon rose gently into the air, cameras clicked nonstop. Alongside classic balloons, special-shaped entries delighted the youngest attendees.
Founded in 1972, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is now the world's largest ballooning event, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors and significant tourism revenue each year. Organizers said this year's pilots and crews hail from multiple countries, a new high for international participation.
The schedule also features evening Balloon Glows, fireworks, live music and food vendors. Local police advised visitors to plan ahead and avoid peak-hour traffic.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：阿尔伯克基国际热气球节集体升空（Mass Ascension）现场。摄影：a4gpa，CC BY-SA 2.0，来源：Wikimedia Commons
