WE’RE NOW LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY FROM THE ABQ INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA. THIS YEAR’S FIESTA OFFICIALLY BEGINS SATURDAY, WITH THE FIRST MASS ASCENSION AT 7 AM. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS ARE EXPECTED AT BALLOON FIESTA PARK FOR THE NINE DAY EVENT.
A STUDY SHOWED THAT LAST YEAR THE FIESTA HAD AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF 177 MILLION DOLLARS…UP MORE THAN 50 PERCENT FROM FOUR YEARS EARLIER. AND IT GENERATED CLOSE TO SIX MILLION DOLLARS IN TAXES…MORE THAN 4-MILLION FOR THE CITY OF ABQ. ATTENDANCE WAS ALSO UP BY 30 PERCENT.
THE FIESTA CONCLUDES ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 9TH.
