The alarm goes off while it’s still properly dark, and for about thirty seconds you question every decision that led here. Then you remember why people make this trip every October, and you get up.
If you’re staying in Santa Fe, Balloon Fiesta is a short drive down to Albuquerque, but it’s rarely a quick one. The traffic heading into the field before sunrise is famous in its own right. Most people who do it more than once end up leaving earlier than seems sensible, or they use the park and ride shuttles so they aren’t hunting for a spot in the dark.
The morning itself starts cold. The desert holds onto the night chill until the sun is well up, so layers, a hat and gloves are worth it even if the afternoon forecast says t shirt weather. A thermos of coffee from home makes the wait pleasant, although there’s plenty of food on the field once the vendors get going. Some of the best breakfast burritos of the whole trip come out of a food truck parked a few steps from the launch field.
Then the balloons start filling. It happens slowly and then all at once, and suddenly the sky is full of color. It’s genuinely one of those moments where nobody is looking at their phone, at least for a minute.
We hear about this trip a lot at Uncle Sheldon. Being a concierge insurance agency means our clients tend to tell us about the whole itinerary, not just the policy, and Fiesta week comes up every fall. Many of them turn it into a longer New Mexico stay, with a few nights in Albuquerque and a few back in Santa Fe.
Rooms go quickly that week. A lot of locals open up a spare casita or guest room to visitors, and for those hosts it’s a good moment to check their short term rental coverage before the guests arrive.
After a four in the morning start and a full day outside, the drive back up the interstate can feel longer than it is. Some groups book a car service for the return so nobody has to fight to stay awake at the wheel. Others skip the drive back entirely and head north the next day, which is usually when the Taos or Santa Fe question comes up.
Bring gloves. You’ll thank us around six in the morning.