Mark Your Calendar:

November 6 – 7, 2010

Discover the enchantment of hot air ballooning

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — For 39 years adventure seekers have been flocking to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the world’s largest hot air balloon festival. You can experience the adventure of a lifetime witnessing more than 500 hot air balloons in the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®, October 2-10, 2010.

Wrap up your summer by planning a fall getaway to the amazing Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® in the hot air ballooning capital of the world. Better yet, enter to win a trip for two October 4-6, 2010. The getaway is valued at more than $1,500 including:

  --  Two nights at Nativo Lodge, a Heritage Hotels & Resorts property
  --  Two days admission to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®
      including VIP access to the Gondola Club Hospitality Suite
  --  A balloon ride for two with Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Company
  --  Admission to the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon
      Museum
  --  A $200 Visa card to be used for airfare, gas or shopping

Visit www.ItsATrip.org/balloon-festival to enter the sweepstakes by September 6th.

For nine days every October, the New Mexico skies are filled with color as 500+ balloons float over Albuquerque’s high desert landscape. There is excitement and adventure to be found both in the air and on the ground. Hundreds of balloons launch at Balloon Fiesta Park each morning. Visitors walk amongst the balloons as they inflate and are welcome to ask questions and meet the pilots – you may even be asked to help out a crew member with the inflation process!

Besides enjoying the spectacle of Mass Ascensions, Balloon Glows, Special Shapes, and exciting hot air and gas balloon competitions, hundreds of booths offer a taste of local cuisine, arts and crafts from across the country.

Albuquerque offers many other affordable adventures from above including the world’s longest aerial tramway, year-round ballooning, soaring in a glider, skiing and amazing views from the 10,000-foot Sandia Peak.

For more information on Balloon Fiesta, visit www.BalloonFiesta.com and for information on Albuquerque, visit www.ItsATrip.org.

The mission of the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau is to stimulate economic growth by marketing Albuquerque as a visitor and convention destination. For more information, please call 505.842.9918 or visit our web site at www.itsatrip.org.

Get your dancing shoes ready for the Albuquerque Latin Dance Festival – seven days filled with teaching and socials for Albuquerque’s dance community – from  August 23-29, 2010. The theme for the festival is “Salsa: Past, Present and Future.”

The Dance Festival, produced by Guanábana Productions, will take place in various Albuquerque locations, including the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the One Up Elevated Lounge, the Hotel Albuquerque, Old Town Plaza, the Library Bar and Grill, the University of New Mexico Ballrooms, Double Time Dance Studio and Salsa Baby Studio.

The goal of the Latin Dance Festival is to promote community building/engagement, to social network, to provide education for the different types of dance, and to celebrate the culture of salsa music. Many of the events are family-oriented. There will be salsa dance lessons during the day and social events during the evening.

The festival is open to everyone regardless of age and previous dance experience. Dance instructors including Edie Williams, or “Edie the Salsa Freak,” and “El Unico Bachatero,” Carlos Cinta with Tate Blomquist will be teaching beginning through advanced level classes.

Guanábana Productions is a non-profit organization of volunteers serving to develop and celebrate New Mexico’s Latin dance culture by showcasing local dance studios, instructors, musicians, and dancers.

Tickets will be available at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the Albuquerque Latin Dance Festival website (www.abqlatinfest.com) and Ticketmaster although advanced purchases are not necessary.