MORE PEOPLE ATTENDED BALLOON FIESTA THIS YEAR THAN IN 2012. SPOKESMAN TOM GARRITY SAYS THE NUMBER OF GUEST VISITS WAS A LITTLE UNDER 857-THOUSAND … A 20-PERCENT INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR. BUT HE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT'S JUST AN ESTIMATE. HE SAYS IT'S NOT A GATED EVENT WHERE YOU HAVE A TICKET FOR EVERY PERSON WHO COMES IN.
GARRITY SAYS NICE WEATHER ALLOWED FIESTA OFFICIALS TO GET IN 13 OF THE 14 SCHEDULED EVENTS. ANOTHER FACTOR WAS THE FIRST-EVER MUSIC FIESTA ON THE FINAL SATURDAY. BY THE WAY, THE 2014 EVENT IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 4TH THROUGH THE 12TH.
