Albuquerque Public Schools
Embracing the Magic of Balloon Fiesta
In her Friday message, Superintendent Blakey celebrates all that this time of year has to offer.
Crisp mornings. Hot air balloons in the sky. The smell of roasting chile wafting through the air!
This is hands down my favorite time of year in Albuquerque – the time of year I relish playing host to out-of-town family and friends. Last year, I hosted family from California, and I took them to MacArthur Elementary to watch a hot air balloon inflate for Balloons Aloft, an amazing event we’ve hosted at most of our elementary schools for the past 20 years.
When you’ve lived in Albuquerque most of your life, it’s easy to lose sight of how magical the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is. That’s why I love seeing someone experience it for the first time.
My young niece and nephew were in awe last October as they watched a balloon inflate. The loud sounds of the propane tank frightened my nephew Rocket at first, but that quickly faded as the pilot explained what was happening. In no time, he and my niece were overjoyed as they took it all in, their faces lit with excitement.
This morning, I’ll be at Cochiti Elementary for Balloons Aloft, and I’m excited to see the Sláinte! Balloon come to life! It’s a beautiful balloon that reminds me of the Zia symbol and New Mexico state flag.
Of course, none of this would be possible without Balloon Fiesta organizers and all of the pilots who bring this free event to our elementary school campuses every year. Students and families flock to our campuses to see the balloons, and I’m grateful to the Balloon Fiesta organization for making it happen.
I’ve been participating in Balloons Aloft for many years, and I enjoy seeing the pilots explain the science behind hot air balloons – the fact that hot air is less dense and rises in cooler air. Our students get to see that principle in practice as pilots use propane burners to fill the envelope with hot air, making the balloon float. They explain that they bring the balloon down by releasing hot air through a vent at the top.
It’s an amazing science lesson our kids will never forget, and the fact that it’s the event that kicks off Balloon Fiesta is icing on the cake! I also love that when our students look up to the sky the following morning and see hundreds of hot air balloons floating, they have a deeper understanding of what they’re seeing and how it all works because they saw a balloon up close.
I frequently preach that we should be bragging about our schools and our community. This is something to brag about. Balloons Aloft is a wonderful event. The Balloon Fiesta is spectacular.
So when you look up and see gorgeous balloons dotting the sky, please take a moment to recognize how unique it is and how lucky we all are to live in a place that affords us that experience. Don’t take it for granted.
Before I sign off, I want to thank our incredible custodians for all they do at our schools and offices. Thursday was National Custodian Day, and they deserve to be showered with praise for all their hard work.
Enjoy all of the beautiful balloons this weekend!