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 Classic - Gilbert, Arizona balloon rally in mid December.
  
   
• Arizona Balloon Classic 2013 - Arizona's premier hot air balloon race and festival.
  
   
• 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.
  
   
• Celina Balloon Festival and Family Fun Day - The 7th Annual Celina Balloon Festival and Family Fun Day is scheduled for October 26 and 27, 2012! The event will be filled with family fun activities including hot air balloons, classic car show, live bands, children's activities, carnival rides, midway games, arts and crafts vendors, festival food vendors, high-flying kites and much more! In Celina, Colorado.
  
   
• Crossroads Balloon Rally - Lamesa, Texas hot air balloon festival plus classic car show and chicken fried steak festival.
  
   
• Festival of Color - Sierra Vista, Arizona balloon rally that is normally held the last weekend in October/first weekend in November. Free admission.
  
   
• Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair - Official Site - Over 50 balloons will be drifting over The London Bridge and dipping into Lake Havasu. Fun and free for the kids! Hot Air Balloon Festival & Fair. January 18-21, 2013
  
   
• 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.
  
   
• 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.
  
   
• 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.
  
   
• 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.