OFFICIALLY, THE ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA BEGINS ON SATURDAY. BUT THERE WILL BE LOTS OF BALLOONS IN THE AIR THE DAY BEFORE. JOHANNA KING WITH APS SAYS ALBUQUERQUE ALOFT IS THE TRADITIONAL LEAD-IN TO THE FIESTA: SHE SAYS THEY’LL HAVE BALLOONS AT 52 SCHOOLS FRIDAY MORNING, INFLATING AROUND ^:45AM AND LAUNCHING SHORTLY AFTER THAT.
KING SAYS ALBUQUERQUE ALOFT IS THE ONLY EVENT DURING FIESTA WHEN BALLOONS LAUNCH FROM PRE-DESIGNATED SITES OUTSIDE OF BALLOON FIESTA PARK.
