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Balloon Fiesta HOP - It's not too late to sign up!

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

There are a few sites left. For more information and pricing, click:
https://www.escapees.com/skp_files/hop/event.php?id=38

 

October 6 – October 11, 2017

October 11 – October 15, 2017

October 6 - October 15, 2017

 

 

 

 

If this world premiere event is on your bucket list, then join SKP friends for the 46th annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

 

 

Each morning as dawn breaks over the majestic Sandia Mountains, the skies will be filled with 600 palatial, bright and beautiful hot-air balloons from all over the world.

 

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the largest and most photographed hot-air balloon festival in the world. It is also the only location where “the box effect” comes into play. This is a special wind pattern that helps pilots navigate their balloons in a vertical, rectangular path, allowing them to land back onto the launch field or even right next to the RV.

 

 

The Dawn Patrol lifts off first in the dark, with specially fitted lights, to observe weather conditions at different altitudes, such as the wind speed and its direction. Upon approval, the balloons lift off in a mass ascension. The “Zebras,” dressed in black and white, coordinate the launching of the balloons.

 

One of the most exciting events is the Flight of the Nations Mass Ascension, where balloonists from each nation launch while waving their national flag.

 

 

Even though there are always traditional shape balloons, there will be many special shapes, too. The most popular are the cow, sun, pig, stagecoach, clock, skunk, the Lady bug and the sweetest mother, daddy and baby bumblebees. The bumblebees have hands with Velcro, so when they touch in midair, it appears they are holding hands.

 

When visiting any of the balloon pilots, remember to ask them for a trading card, which gives pertinent information about their balloon.

 

 

This fiesta also hosts the Gas Balloons - America's Challenge race, with the winner being the one going the farthest. Some of the gas balloons have gone as far as the East Coast and into Canada. Their progress can be tracked on the Fiesta website.

 

On the launch field, at dusk, you can see the burners of the balloons ignite and watch the evening sky fill with a bouquet of bright colors. The nights will finish with an extraordinary display of fireworks.

 

 

Escapees will have Boondock camping and a private tent for inclement weather, socials, games and catered dinners.

 

There will be a considerable amount of walking, so please bring comfortable walking shoes, binoculars and also a camera for taking photos of the beautiful balloons hovering overhead.

 

Three options will be offered for the Balloon Fiesta HOP.

You may purchase option #1: the first five days, (arriving October 6, leaving the morning of October 11) which will include the traditional shape balloons, a special presentation by an experienced hot-air balloon pilot and two entrance tickets, per person, into the balloon launch field, plus the activities below.

 

 

Subject to change. (Rain or shine)

Friday, Oct. 6

Welcome

Balloon Pilot presentation

Announcements and social hour

Catered dinner

 

Saturday, Oct. 7

Catered breakfast

Dawn Patrol

Laser Light Show

Morning Glow

Opening Ceremonies

Mass Ascension

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

Announcements and social hour

Catered dinner

Twilight Twinkle Glow™

America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Launch

Laser Light Show

AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show

 

Sunday, Oct. 8

Catered breakfast

Dawn Patrol Show

Laser Light Show

Morning Glow

Mass Ascension

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

Fiesta of Wheels Car Show

Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading

Dinner

Balloon Glow

Laser Light Show

AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show

 

Monday, Oct. 9

Catered breakfast

Dawn Patrol

Laser Light Show

Balloons launch

Balloon Competition Flying Begins

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

 

Tuesday, Oct. 10

Catered breakfast

Dawn Patrol

Laser Light Show

Balloons launch

Balloon Competition Flying Begins

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

Farewell catered dinner

 

Wednesday, Oct. 11

Option #1 - Safe travels!

 

Prices for Option #1: October 6 – 11, 2017

Two-person rig: $1050.00

Additional person: $725.00

One-person rig: $925.00

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

You may purchase option #2: the last five days, (arriving the morning of October 11, leaving on October 15) which will include the traditional shape balloons, the special shape balloons and two entrance tickets, per person, into the balloon launch field, plus the activities below.

Subject to change. (Rain or shine)

Wednesday, Oct. 11

Option #2 - Welcome to the Balloon Fiesta HOP!

Announcements and social hour

Catered dinner

 

Thursday, Oct. 12

Catered breakfast

Dawn Patrol

Laser Light Show

Special Shape Rodeo

Balloon Competition Flying Begins

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

Announcements and social hour

Catered dinner

Special Shape Glowdeo

Laser Light Show

AfterGlow Fireworks Show

 

Friday, Oct. 13

Catered breakfast

Dawn Patrol

Laser Light Show

Special Shape Rodeo – Balloon Launch

Laser Light Show

Competition Flying Begins

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

Announcements and social hour

Catered dinner

Special Shape Glowdeo

Laser Light Show

AfterGlow Fireworks Show

 

Saturday, Oct. 14

Catered breakfast

Dawn Patrol Show

Laser Light Show

Morning Glow

Mass Ascension

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading

Music Fiesta (Extra charge)

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

Announcements and social hour

Farewell Catered dinner

Night Magic Glow

Laser Light Show

AfterGlow Fireworks Show

 

Sunday, Oct. 15

Catered breakfast

Dawn Patrol Show

Laser Light Show

Morning Glow

Farewell Mass Ascension

 

Prices for Option #2 October 11 – 15, 2017

Two-person rig: $1075.00

Additional person: $725.00

One-person rig: $950.00

____________________________________________________________

 

Or, you can purchase option #3: the entire stay at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which will include four tickets, per person, into the balloon launch field, plus the activities below for ten days and nine nights.

 

Subject to change. (Rain or shine)

Friday, Oct. 6

Welcome to the Balloon Fiesta HOP!

Balloon Pilot presentation

Announcements and social hour

Catered dinner

 

Saturday, Oct. 7

Catered breakfast

Dawn Patrol

Laser Light Show

Morning Glow

Opening Ceremonies

Mass Ascension

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

Announcements and social hour

Catered dinner

Twilight Twinkle Glow™

America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Launch

Laser Light Show

AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show

 

Sunday, Oct. 8

Catered breakfast

Dawn Patrol Show

Laser Light Show

Morning Glow

Mass Ascension

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

Fiesta of Wheels Car Show

Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading

Dinner

Balloon Glow

Laser Light Show

AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show

 

Monday, Oct. 9

Catered breakfast

Dawn Patrol

Laser Light Show

Balloons launch

Balloon Competition Flying Begins

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

 

Tuesday, Oct. 10

Catered breakfast

Dawn Patrol

Laser Light Show

Balloons launch

Balloon Competition Flying Begins

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

Farewell catered dinner

 

Wednesday, Oct. 11

Catered breakfast

Welcome to the Balloon Fiesta HOP!

Announcements and social hour

Catered dinner

 

Thursday, Oct. 12

Catered breakfast

Dawn Patrol

Laser Light Show

Special Shape Rodeo

Balloon Competition Flying Begins

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

Announcements and social hour

Catered dinner

Special Shape Glowdeo

Laser Light Show

AfterGlow Fireworks Show

 

Friday, Oct. 13

Catered breakfast

Dawn Patrol

Laser Light Show

Special Shape Rodeo – Balloon Launch

Laser Light Show

Competition Flying Begins

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

Announcements and social hour

Catered dinner

Special Shape Glowdeo

Laser Light Show

AfterGlow Fireworks Show

 

Saturday, Oct. 14

Catered breakfast

Dawn Patrol Show

Laser Light Show

Morning Glow

Mass Ascension

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading

Music Fiesta (Extra charge)

AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

Announcements and social hour

Farewell Catered dinner

Night Magic Glow

Laser Light Show

AfterGlow Fireworks Show

 

Sunday, Oct. 15

Catered breakfast

Dawn Patrol Show

Laser Light Show

Morning Glow

Farewell Mass Ascension

Rain or shine. – Subject to change.

Prices for Option #3: Oct. 6 – 15, 2017

Two-person rig: $1,275. 00

Additional person: $825.00

One-person rig: $999.00

 

 

Registration includes:

RV parking at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Entrance tickets to the balloon launch field

Access to the flying competitions
Catered meals
Private party tent with tables and chairs for inclement weather and games
Games and prizes

Your HOP hosts

Souvenir HOP name tag

Gratuities

And much more!

 

Payment options

When registering for a land HOP, you may pay half of the fee upon registration and can then make monthly payments. The balance is due 60 days prior to the event. Ask the HOP department about this payment option.

 

To register for this HOP, contact:
The HOP Department
888-757-2582 or 936-327-8873

 

For more information, email hopinfo@escapees.com

 

Confirmation Letter

Once registered for this HOP, a confirmation letter will be sent to you via email. If you do not receive it, please check your spam files or, email hopinfo@escapees.com.

 

RV Campground
Escapees will be
boon docking at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, 4401 Alameda Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113.

 

View upcoming HOPs: https://www.escapees.com/fun/hops

 

Visit the HOP Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EscapeesHOPs

 

View the HOP cancellation policy: https://www.escapees.com/fun/hops/cancellation-policy

 

Discussion Forum:

Escapees has an informative discussion forum. To access the forum, go to http://www.rvnetwork.com.

 

Escapees Club News:

The HOPs or any Escapees RV Club information can be sent to you in a Club News.

 

Stay informed with important club updates, advocacy issues, and promotion items. If you would like to stay updated, click: https://www.escapees.com/club-benefits; then click the sign-up button on the left-hand side.

 

Cancellation Insurance

If you or a family member has a pre-existing medical condition, you may consider purchasing cancellation insurance. Insurance can also help cover you from other unexpected emergencies. You can get more information about this insurance, such as pricing and coverage, by calling Escapees Travel Agency, at 855-757-8881 or email them at eta@escapees.com.

 

 

See you at the HOP!

 

Safe travels,

 

Lisa Koca

HOP Director

Escapees RV Club

888-757-2582

www.escapees.com/hops

www.facebook.com/escapeeshops

 

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  • 7 months later...
5 hours ago, PatHansen said:

...For those of us that may not be able to afford the HOP - are there any other methods of viewing the balloon festival in the area?...

Welcome to the Escapees Forum! I suggest that you start a topic in the Travel Forum. I am sure you will get some responses to such a topic. 

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29 minutes ago, spenser2 said:

Hi trailertraveler

 

Thanks for your interest in the HOP...

Lisa,

I am not the one  interested in the HOP (been there done that enough times). That was PatHansen who it appears has not returned to this forum. I suggested starting a new thread as I did not feel comfortable providing competing information in your topic on a Forum specifically about Escapees events.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Anyone attending the ABQ Balloon Fiesta, I'll be flying my new balloon "Carried Away" this year, and I always welcome volunteer crew to help launch, chase and retrieve the aircraft.  Crew receive free field passes and have access to the crew canteen for breakfast munchies in the morning (opens 5:30am.)  Crewing is not a trivial commitment - you need to be in good physical shape and able to walk/carry over rough ground.  

I will be in ABQ on Thursday, and I'll be flying Friday morning at a local elementary school (Albuquerque Aloft program).  I conduct a crew training session on the balloon field for all volunteer crew on Friday afternoon before Fiesta begins,

A group of Xscapers tag-teamed as crew last year, and had a great time.  It's an opportunity to get up close and personal with 90,000 cuft of hot air.  I've been flying safely for 40+ years, with over 1700 hours in balloons, with no accidents or incidents.

Anyone interested in crewing can contact me at fred@dinkler.com, or (210) 391-2589

See you in October!

Fred and Christel Dinkler
San Antonio, TX

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Hi Fred,

Thanks for sharing this exciting information. I emailed you this morning about the best way to share this information with our HOP attendees. Please take a look at it and email me back.

I’m looking forward to working with you.

Have a good day.

Lisa

Lisa Koca

HOP Director

 

For Cruise HOPs, call:

Escapees Travel Agency

855-757-8881 (Toll-Free)

 

Escapees RV Club

888-757-2582

www.escapees.com/hops

www.facebook.com/escapeeshops

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On 6/9/2017 at 8:40 AM, PatHansen said:

For those of us that may not be able to afford the HOP - are there any other methods of viewing the balloon festival in the area? Would love to do the HOP, but it's not in our budget. Thanks in advance. 

We are volunteering there beginning on 9/6 through the end of the event (Oct 15?) and they are still looking for volunteers for the parking crew. Parking spot w/ FHU for the first few weeks and then W/E site with honey wagon.

Job includes clearing the parking area of debris, stuffing swag bags, prepping the area for parking pre-fiesta and of course the actual checking in and parking visitors. Pre-fiesta work hours are 3 or four hours weekdays before the sun gets hot. Fiesta time is AHOD.

If you send me a message I can get you a contact so that you can research it further.

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