Getting up early for the balloon fiesta is a commitment, but worth it every time. Layers, coffee, and a quick check of the weather, then heading out while it’s still dark. The walk to the Balloon Fiesta Park was full of other sleepy people, all headed in the same direction, enjoying the calm before the show started. I wore my Riddari sweater, which kept me warm in the cold morning.

When we arrived to the park, we explored, walking around before choosing a spot to watch the mass ascension The balloon fiesta started in 1972 with just 13 balloons, which feels hard to imagine, now the mass ascension includes around 500 balloons launching over a couple of house. They go up in waves, one field at a time and you’re standing there, and somehow the event feels simultaneously chaotic and orderly.

Enjoying the balloon fiesta is a part of life in Albuquerque. We grabbed a breakfast burrito and took our time walking around, balloons drifting overhead past the Sandias, a beautiful reminder of why living here is so special.