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Albuquerque International Balloon festival The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a yearly festival of hot air balloons that takes place in Albuquerque , New Mexico, USA during early October . The Balloon Fiesta is a nine-day event, and has over 500 balloons each year. The event is the largest hot air balloon festival in the world . History The Balloon Fiesta began in 1972 as the highlight of a 50th birthday celebration for 770 KOB Radio . Radio station manager Dick McKee asked Sid Cutte r, owner of Cutter Flying Service and the first person to own a hot air balloon in New Mexico, if KOB could use his new hot-air balloon as part of the festivities. The two began discussing ballooning , along with conversation and help from Oscar Kratz , and McKee asked what the largest gathering of hot air balloons to date had been. 19 balloons in England, Cutter replied. Kratz asked " Can we get 19 here? " Cutter agreed to try. He got c...