Hanging upside down from a hot air balloon to pick cotton with some friends; a reluctant trip to New Mexico turns into 33 years of never missing the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and an induction into the Balloon Fiesta hall of fame; turning two balloon pins into 200,000 pins. We dug through our communities and connections to find some iconic characters of the worlds largest hot air balloon festival to talk to them about finding community, healthy addictions, fulfilling childhood dreams of flying on the tops of trees. Truly a cast like no other.

Sam and I have been attending the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta for nearly three decades, and it never gets old. Never. If you’ve never been to the festival, here’s your sign.

Christmas gift: check! Shop for you new favorite game or puzzle at Puzzled! A truly special thanks to some of our favorite people and a one of a kind small business, located in the heart of Old Town, Albuquerque. In an increasingly digital world, Puzzled brings the tangible joy of puzzles and the communal experience of shared problem-solving with handcrafted games you won’t find anywhere else.

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The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta