Ballooning > Balloon Festivals > USA > Southwest

• Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta - World's Largest, Most Photographed Ballooning Event! Starting the first Saturday in October. Hot Air, Special Shapes, Gas Balloons; Spectacular Balloon Glows, Races, Famous Albuquerque Mass Ascension
  
   
• Plano Balloon Festival - The Plano Balloon Festival has been around for over twenty years. It is held each year in mid September. Held at Oak Point Park & Collin County Community College, Spring Creek Campus, Plano, Texas. Events include balloon rides, balloon glow, arts and crafts, concerts and a parachute team demonstration.
  
   
• Hoppermania 2003 - Ten cloudhoppers flying together as part of Albuquerque's Fiesta. Tons of pictures, names of pilots, and 2 highlights slideshows. Very colorful.
  
   
• Arizona Balloon Festival - A brand new and exciting hot air balloon event in Chandler, Arizona, Tumbleweed Park. Mid-November with hot air balloon races, balloon glows, entertainment, arts & crafts, food and fun.
  
   
• Ballunar Liftoff Festival, Houston Clear Lake Texas - Ballunar Liftoff Festival takes place at NASA's Johnson Space Center in mid August. Events include balloon flights, balloon glow, skydiving and musical entertainment.
  
   
• Festival of Color - Sierra Vista, Arizona balloon rally that is normally held the last weekend in October/first weekend in November. Free admission.
  
   
• Lions Balloon Festival at Highland Village - The 19th annual festival will be August 19 through 21 at Copperas Branch Park in Highland Village, Texas. Admission is free with parking at $3.00 per car.
  
   
• Prescott Valley Balloon Festival - Returning this year on June 18-19, 2011. Held in conjunction with the Prescott Valley Days summer carnival and celebration (in Prescott, Arizona), the festival will feature flights on Saturday and Sunday mornings plus a glow on Saturday night. Food, music, carnival games, and lots of fun!
  
   
• Red Rock Balloon Rally - Held annually the first week of December in Gallup, New Mexico. 180 balloons fly the ancient canyon walls of Red Rock State Park.
  
   
• Socorro Balloon Rally - The balloon rally is held November 24-25, 2007 (Thanksgiving weekend) in conjunction with the Posole Cookoff and the Candy Cane Electric Light Parade. The 50 balloons will be taking off from Tripp Launch Field.
  
   
• The Great Texas Balloon Race - The Great Texas Balloon Race in Longview Texas in mid July, features thrilling ballooning competitions and the Texas state balloon championship.
  
   
• Thunderbird Ballooon Classic - Scottsdale, Arizona is host to this festival in early November.
  
   
• Top Gun Home Page - New Mexico Competition Organization
  
   
• White Sands Balloon Invitational - White Sands Balloon Invitational. A rally that flies over the white gypsum dunes of the White Sands National Monument. This event is held in mid September.
  
   
• 2005 - New Mexico State Championships - Article describing this competition from the perspective of one of the participating crews. Includes results and links to photos. Originally published in AAAA Cloudbouncer newsletter.
  
   
• America's Challenge Race - Gas balloon race held annually in Albuquerque since 1995. The inaugural race broke distance records dating back to 1912. Complete info on the upcoming race, plus past years' results and gas balloon pictures.
  
   
• Balloon Flight Concert for Peace - Carrying a band playing live rock music the giant tie-dyed balloon lifted off from the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta with the music blasting from speakers on chase vehicles below. A large banner hung well beneath the basket portraying a lager than life peace symbol.
  
   
• 1998 Alpine, Texas Balloon Rally - Info on the 1998 rally and photos from previous events.
  
   
• Friends and Lovers Rally - This event is held annually around Valentine's day, in Rio Rancho, just outside of Albuquerque, NM. Pictures of the event.
  
   
• Katy, Texas Balloon Festival - Katy, Texas 2000 Balloon Festival held in early June. Other events include a cook-off, arts and craft festival, carnival and live entertainment.