A view from Lift-Off Lane

The Season 49 Finale includes a look at the Schedule for the Farewell Mass Ascension.  We will also hear from many of the members from the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta’s Board of Directors.  We will get their thoughts on the 49th event, the “Big Reveal” of the 50th Hot Air Balloon and the 49th event.

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

The weather for the previous seven days of Balloon Fiesta has been fantastic.  Today on a View from Lift Off Lane, we will review the morning and afternoon schedule. We will also get a sneak preview of the big reveal that will be happening at Balloon Fiesta today as well as speak with a Balloon Fiesta pilot about his great flight in Albuquerque that took him throughout the Rio Grande valley and brought his special shape back to Balloon Fiesta Park.  In this episode, we speak with Balloon Fiesta’s Sam Parks and the pilot of Sheriff Airmadillo Michael Celentano.

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

Balloon Fiesta Friday means a little bit of everything our guests enjoy.  A launch, competition, special shapes, skydivers and chainsaw carving. Matt Harvey with Team FastTrax and Jason Emmons with Bear Hollow Carvers are interviewed in this episode.

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

It is Shapes Day!! This episode will focus on all things related to Special Shape Balloons at the 49thAlbuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Special shapes will launch from Balloon Fiesta Park during the Special Shape Rodeo™ and participate in a static display during the evening Special Shape Glowdeo™. This year’s event features 84 special shapes, 10 of which are making their inaugural appearance at Balloon Fiesta.

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

Today on a view from Liftoff Lane it is the 24th Flight of the Nations and Mid-week Mass ascension. We will take a look at the schedule and then speak with Jennifer Garcia with Balloon Fiesta about the Flight of the Nations and then we will hear from Andy Baird the owner and general manager of Cameron Balloons.

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

Tuesday is the second day of competition.  This episode will briefly address the flying events and include an interview with Albuquerque City Councilor Brook Bassan about her work with the City of Albuquerque Balloon Landing Task Force.

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

Today on a view from Liftoff Lane we will take a look at the schedule for the first day of competition. We will get some insight on the competition, talk about the first weekend and look ahead at what the week holds.  Balloon Fiesta’s Sam Parks is our guest.

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

The first Sunday of the 49th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is filled with a lot of activity. In this episode of a View from Lift Off Lane, we will discuss today’s events and hear from the Balloonmeister Henry Rosenbaum and Chief Weather Officer Brad Temeyer.

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

The first of nine event podcasts to let provide you an insiders perspective of what will be happening on each day at Balloon Fiesta! Today, it its opening day at the 49th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta! This podcasts will include insights from Balloon Fiesta’s President of the Board of Directors Matt Guthrie, the Event’s Executive Director Paul Smith, Public Safety Director Sean Wallace and the Albuquerque Police Department’s Lt. Michael Meisinger.

Also, this podcast will provide you an exclusive preview of today’s opening ceremonies.  A lot of ground to cover, you will need to listen fast!

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

September 17 – X Marks the Spot, RC Balloons Balloon Fiesta Live

In almost two weeks, the 49th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will launch into the turquoise Albuquerque skies!

This episode includes a preview of the X Marks the spot program, a great way for New Mexico residents to get involved with this year’s event.

We will also have a conversation with the Balloon Meister of the worlds smallest balloon event… the Remote Control Balloons that will be launching as a part of three morning launches.

And, we will have fun and lively conversation with the hosts of Balloon Fiesta Live, Glen Moyer and Art Lloyd Junior. They will tell us what to watch for as the program streams all 14 events of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. It is the next best thing to being at Balloon Fiesta in person.

The interviews in this podcast were recorded during the week of September 13th. Today’s airdate is September 17th.

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

Thirty days from today, September 1, 2021, the 49th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will launch into the turquoise Albuquerque skies! There are a lot of items on the minds of event leadership, staff, pilots and guests; top of mind is the delta variant and what impacts, if any, will it have on the 2021 event. This episode includes an event update from Balloon Fiesta’s Executive Director Paul Smith and Event director Sam Parks. This episode will also discuss a newly certified Guinness World Record that identifies the Balloon Fiesta as the Greatest Mass Balloon Ascent.

The Guinness World Record interviews occurred on August 20th and the Event update interviews were conducted on August 31, 2021.

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

This podcast will feature an interview with New Mexico Tourism Secretary Jen Schroer.  We had a chance to catch up with the busy Tourism Secretary about the 2021 Balloon Fiesta.  Her insights on the event and New Mexico True activities when the balloons land will be our first story.

Next to the amazing nine days of mass ascensions, one of the items that makes Balloon Fiesta so memorable are the balloon pins!  The event’s resident expert, balloon pin collector is Ty Young.  Later in our podcast, a conversation with Ty Young and to learn more about is balloon pin insights.

The interview with Secretary Shroer was recorded on August 11, 2021. The interview with Ty Young was recorded August 18, 2021.

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

This podcast includes an event update from director of operations Sam Parks.  He will review the “Know Before You Go” information posted on BalloonFiesta.com.

Also, the first official posters of what would become the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta featured the Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote cartoon characters. Today, the Balloon Fiesta poster is one of the many great collectable items sold through BalloonFiestaStuff.com. In this podcast, poster artist Daniel Killen, in his own words, shares about his background and inspirations for the 49th event poster… his words even provide a sneak peak of what to anticipate for the 50th event poster!

The interview with Sam Parks was recorded on August 4, 2021. The interview with Daniel Killen was recorded on July 29, 2021.

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

July 16 – Balloon Fiesta Park 25th anniversary

This podcast will feature a narrative from writer Dick Brown, a member of the Balloon Fiesta Heritage Committee.  He will share his insights from an article he wrote for the 49th Balloon Fiesta’s Official Program.  The article, titled Balloon Fiesta Park 25th Anniversary highlights the different launch sites around Albuquerque.  It also includes a nice trip down memory lane about one of Balloon Fiesta’s founders, Sid Cutter.

The interviews were recorded on July 9, 2021.

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

On Today’s podcast, we will receive an event update from the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta’s Executive Director Paul Smith and Director of Operations Sam Parks about the 49th Balloon Fiesta.  We will discuss the events and some insights on the kind of COVID Safe Practices you might see at this year’s event.

Also, tickets for all events go on sale 9am, July 2nd at BalloonFiesta.com. We speak with Balloon Fiesta’s Erica Hahn about the process and what information ready when you log on to purchase your tickets for the October 2-10, 2021 event.

The interviews were recorded on July 1, 2021.

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

On Today’s podcast, we will introduce you to someone who has flown special shape balloons, coordinated balloon safety for the event and is a past president and current member of the Balloon Fiesta Board of directors.  Today, a conversation with Balloon Pilot Ray Bair.

July 2nd is the day tickets go on sale for the 2021 event.  It all happens at Balloon Fiesta.com, look for the link in the show notes.  In our next episode, we will have a preview of what you need to know before logging on to buy your tickets.

The interview with Ray Bair was recorded on June 16th, 2021

Today’s podcast includes an event update from the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta’s Director of Operations Sam Parks, Navigator lead Jennifer Schurman and Amanda Molina from the media team. The interviews on this podcast were recorded on May 27 & 28, 2021

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

Today’s podcast includes interviews with the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta’s Associate Event Director Jennifer Garcia and Shamaine Giannini who coordinates the guest experience for Gondola Club, Chasers' Club & Glamping.

Also, we have a special guest, the President and CEO of Visit Albuquerque Tania Armenta.  Ms. Armenta will give is some great ideas when you are booking travel, lodging and activities that complement Balloon Fiesta.

The interviews on this podcast were recorded on Monday, May 10 and 12, 2021.

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

Today’s podcast includes an event updated from the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta’s Executive Director Paul Smith and Director of Operations Sam Parks. The interviews on this podcast were recorded on Friday, April 30th

Websites mentioned in this episode include:

Welcome to Season 49, Episode 2 of the Balloon Fiesta Podcast, a view from Lift Off Lane.  This is Tom Garrity with Balloon Fiesta.

Today’s podcast will include a conversation with Matt Guthrie, he is a balloon pilot and president of the Balloon Fiesta Board of Directors. When was Matt’s first balloon fiesta? The answer might surprise you!

The show will also introduce you to Balloon Fiesta’s sponsorship team … the dynamic duo of Laurie and Stephanie… they will share a little bit about sponsorships and let us know where their favorite place is to watch the balloons.

And, Amanda Molina with our communications team will provide a sneak preview of an article you will see in the April Balloon Fiesta Newsletter.

Interviews in today’s podcast were conducted on April 12th  and April 14th , 2021.

The inaugural episode of the Balloon Fiesta Podcast A view from Lift-Off Lane features insights from Paul Smith, the executive director of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and Sam Parks, the Director of Operations for the Balloon Fiesta.  We are still a little more than 180 days out from October 2nd, 2021 when the 49th Balloon Fiesta will launch to the skies over Albuquerque, New Mexico.  In this episode, we want to connect you with the event’s leadership so you can hear first-hand about the plans for the 49th event. Interviews in today’s podcast were conducted on March 31, 2021.

Balloon Fiesta Event Update – April 2, 2021

The 49th Balloon Fiesta will launch in 6 months launching October 2-10.

Balloon Fiesta’s leadership has been working with the State of New Mexico to develop COVID Safe Practices (CSPs) that will enable outdoor festivals and in particular Balloon Fiesta to operate safely.

As always, Balloon Fiesta is committed to provide a safe opportunity to enjoy the balloons. Our leadership is working to understand and adhere to the State of New Mexico’s Public Health Orders.

The event staff, with guidance from medical professionals, have identified and will continue to discover public health measures that will be needed based on existing and anticipated requirements for our Event. We plan to provide that information by the time tickets go on sale July 2, 2021. The measures will continue to be updated as conditions evolve.

In preparation for our Mass Ascension® launch on October 2, Balloon Fiesta officials are finalizing the list of pilots who will be invited to fly in the 49th event. The event is on track to launch more than 600 hot air balloons during the nine-day event.

About the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta