The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a world-renowned event that draws visitors from across the globe. With hundreds of colorful balloons taking to the skies, the fiesta offers a magical experience that’s truly one of a kind. The event takes place over nine days at Balloon Fiesta Park. The field is 365 acres of grass and a grid of paved areas, which covers an area the size of 276 football fields! Navigating such a vast area can be challenging, especially for people with limited mobility. If you’re planning to attend this event, but you have a disability or mobility challenges, Destination Accessibility has some tips to make your visit to Balloon Fiesta smoother and more comfortable.
Request a Reflective Handicap Placard
This is not required; however, if you have an current handicap placard for your vehicle, you can request a reflective handicap placard from the Balloon Fiesta’s main office. Costing $20, this reflective placard is used, in addition to your normal handicap placard, during low-visibility and in the dark. It allows traffic personnel to easily direct your vehicle into the right parking areas. Requests can be emailed, with the subject line “ADA PLACARD REQUEST” to balloons@balloonfiesta.com. You can also make these requests by mail to: AIBF, 4401 Alameda NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113. Be sure to put ATTN: ADA Placard Request on your envelope. These are available on a limited basis, and within a few weeks of the Fiesta, you may have to pick up your placard in person.
Download the Balloon Fiesta App
The Balloon Fiesta has an official smart phone app and it’s very helpful. There is a map that shows the site layout and grid, which can help you and your family connect if you get separated. The names of each parking lot are also there so you can find your car again after the event. The app also includes the status of each event indicated as a green flag, yellow flag, or a red flag. As a weather-dependent event, it can be cancelled due to rain or wind. Green means the event that day is a GO and expected to happen, Yellow means the event is a MAYBE and might be cancelled. Yellow can end up turning Green closer to event time, or if winds pick up or it starts raining, it may turn Red. Red means that the event will be cancelled. The app is the first place this information is posted for the public and having it can save you and your family a lot of hassle.
Arrive Early for the Closest Parking
The Balloon Fiesta is a very popular event and crowds can be huge. All parking is first come, first served and is $20 per event. There are over 170 accessible parking spaces available within six of the ten parking lots. However, the close ADA spots are far more limited, so anyone with a mobility issue should plan to arrive early to get one of these spots.
Suggested arrival times:
Morning – before 5:00 am
Evening – before 4:00 pm
The closest lots are accessible from the southbound frontage road of I-25 on Balloon Fiesta Parkway.
Suggested lots:
Daffy Duck – dedicated ADA lot on the northeast side of the field
Marvin the Martian
Other lots with ADA spots (requires navigating a large hill**):
Wile E. Coyote
Tweety Bird
If you rent from Destination Accessibility, we will show you the speed button on your device and settings to ensure safe use. If you end up at one of these parking areas, manual wheelchair users will likely want a friend or family member to hold on to their device while they go down the hill and help pushing back up the hill.
Parking Lot Shuttles and Park & Ride
The Balloon Fiesta offers free ADA courtesy shuttles from Tweety Bird, Daffy Duck, Marvin the Martian, Wile E. Coyote, Granny, and Road Runner. However, these shuttles are limited, and many are not able to accommodate devices like electric wheelchairs or scooters. This year, Balloon Fiesta does have some shuttles that accommodate wheelchairs. If you need that support to get to a bus or the upper parking lots, ask officials at the park where to find that support.
Park & Ride is a service that allows event attendees to park off-site and get shuttled to the event site. In the past this has been a fleet of school busses that were not accessible. However, this year, Balloon Fiesta has made sure that there is an accessible bus at each Park & Ride location. There is a lift so people using wheelchairs can remain seated. They secure the individual once they are on board, and the rest of the family can load up, too. It is apparently running well, according to users we have spoken to. Due to space limitations, electric scooters are not permitted.
Accessible Bathrooms
As an outdoor event venue, Balloon Fiesta Park is mostly supported with porta potties. There are accessible porta potties in those areas, which are helpful. Additionally, in recent years, Balloon Fiesta has added a more permanent bathroom with lighting. It is built on the frame of a trailer, and it has steps leading up to the men’s and women’s bathrooms, so those aren’t accessible. However, at the west end of the same structure there is a family bathroom with a ramp. That bathroom is very accessible and even has room for someone to assist you. Look for the accessible bathroom sign on the entry path across from the first aid station on the way to gate 12.
Take Advantage of Off-Peak Times
Weekends are especially crowded at the Balloon Fiesta. If you’re looking to see the balloons, enjoy the booths, and dine with the food vendors, consider attending events on mid-week mornings. This can make it easier to navigate the park and find a prime viewing spot. A full schedule of events can be found on the official Balloon Fiesta website.
General Information & Tips for Everyone Who Attends Balloon Fiesta
Have cash ready and handy to move through the line quickly. Admission to Balloon Fiesta is paid at the entry gates after you park. The cost is $15 per session for guests 13 and older. Cash or credit card payments are taken at ticket booths place around the perimeter of the event. Children 12 years and under are FREE. No refunds are available, but tickets for cancelled sessions may be used for future sessions. If an event is cancelled hold on to those tickets and use them another day or time.
October mornings and evenings in Albuquerque can be very chilly and the temperature can change quickly as the sun rises or sets. Dress in layers to stay comfortable throughout your Balloon Fiesta visit. Think gloves, hats, and jackets for early morning, but be prepared to shed them as the sun comes up. If you attend a Balloon Glow, you’ll find the weather warm at first but carry those jackets along because you will likely need them. If you’re using a scooter or wheelchair, consider bringing an extra blanket to wrap up in for added comfort. Wagons are welcome.
With so much to see and do, it’s important to stay hydrated and nourished. Bring a refillable water bottle and some easy-to-carry snacks, especially if you plan on spending several hours at the park. There are tons of food vendors to enjoy, too, if you don’t want to carry your own items.
Leave your pets at home. The ONLY animals allowed at Balloon Fiesta Park are ADA service animals. Emotional support animals are not classified as service animals. (NMSA 1978, Section 28-11-6)
Rent a Wheelchair or Scooter from Adelante Destination Accessibility
Destination Accessibility, one of Adelante’s newest programs, offers a range of mobility devices, including wheelchairs and scooters, to help you make the most of your Balloon Fiesta experience. By renting a wheelchair or scooter from Destination Accessibility, you’re ensuring that your visit is as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
Here’s why renting from us is a smart choice:
- Easy reservation process: Our online reservation system makes it simple to secure your mobility equipment ahead of time, so you can focus on enjoying the event. There are limited amounts of rentals onsite, but if you plan ahead and rent with us you will be assured you have what you need in advance.
- Your rental will be available for the whole trip, beyond the Balloon Fiesta site. When you rent from Destination Accessibility you can have your wheelchair or scooter from the moment you exit your car until you’re ready to call it a day. Plus, you can visit other fun events, museums, and other sites around Albuquerque with the same device. For example, we are hosting an accessible birding event Wednesday morning of Balloon Fiesta week. Learn more and sign up for Birdwatching in the Bosque.
- Top-quality equipment that will fit into your standard vehicle. Destination Accessibility provides well-maintained, comfortable, and easy-to-operate wheelchairs and scooters, ensuring you can navigate Balloon Fiesta Park with ease. We will even show you how to put together your device and break it down to fit into your vehicle.
- Delivery and pickup services. To make your experience more convenient, we offer delivery and pickup services from your hotel, your housing rental, or the airport. Your device will be ready for you when you arrive, so you can get right to enjoying the festivities without figuring out how to make it from the parking lot and back.
- Local expertise and great customer service. Destination Accessibility is a local business that knows the Balloon Fiesta and Albuquerque. If you have questions or troubles, we will be there to help you!
Rent your wheelchair or scooter today!
Destination Accessibility believes that Balloon Fiesta is an event that nobody should miss. We hope you find these tips helpful on your visit to the world-renowned event, the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.