| The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a massive gathering of balloonists from around the world, occurring in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, during the first week of
October. The event lasts approximately one week and includes nearly 1000 hot air balloons with pilots throughout the United States and the world. The balloon fiesta began as a small gathering of 13
balloons in 1972, but since then has grown each year, and today constitutes the largest balloon convention in the world.
During the convention, several different events occur, ranging from mass ascensions, special shapes ascensions, night glows,
and a variety of balloon competitions. The convention has also become a major showcase of New Mexican culture and history, and
features numerous cultural exhibitions. The fiesta has become a major event in Albuquerque every fall, attracting tourists from
across the state, the nation and even the world. The fiesta has become one of Albuquerque's largest tourist attractions and
constitutes a major source of income for the city and local businesses. Typically, tourists and fiesta visitors take thousands of
pictures of the balloons, so it is no surprise that for several years the fiesta was sponsored by Kodak and was given the title,
the Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, though that title was usually only used in print ads and on official
memorabilia. Kodak no longer sponsors the fiesta, and the official name has returned to the Albuquerque International Balloon
Fiesta.
The actual balloon fiesta park from which the balloons are launched is located on the western side of the city. Currently, the
city is constructing a multimillion dollar Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum on the
grounds, which recounts the last three decades of the convention, as well as a general history of ballooning. It is scheduled to
open in October 2005.
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