Update: Karen has photos of two of the best of the special shape balloons.
If you ever want to attend the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta — and everyone should see it at least once — it runs from the first Saturday each October through the following weekend. The very best time — weather notwithstanding — is from Thursday morning through Saturday morning (today, tomorrow and Saturday this year).
In addition to mass ascensions each morning (500+ balloons), there are glows (where the balloons remain on the ground but are lit by their burners) and fireworks Thursday and Friday evenings.
And Thursday is when they break out the special shape balloons!
Take a look at this year’s poster.
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta | Mass Happiness
Alas the winds picked up after launch this morning and there were six reported crashes, with one broken leg suffered by a woman who fell out of the gondola. I love calling a wicker basket a gondola.