Kids Events During Balloon Fiesta 2019
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
Balloon Fiesta 2019 Kicks Off on Friday With Albuquerque Aloft!
At 70 elementary schools in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, pilots will inflate their tethered hot air balloons and let kids get up close and personal views of the pre-flight process, from unraveling the balloon to inflating it.
Weather permitting, the balloons will take off simultaneously across town.
During Fiesta Albuquerque Has Lots Events Going On
If you’re visiting Albuquerque for the Balloon Fiesta, welcome! There are plenty of options for entertaining the kids during the week.
Top Weekday Kids Events in Albuquerque

- Enjoy fall activities and farm animals at the Galloping Goat Pumpkin Patch. Open every day in October!
- Fallout Jump trampoline arena has a special ABQ Kids discount (see the coupon on our homepage), and they have a special jump time for the little kids!
- Albuquerque can’t stop crowing about our new PENGUINS at the zoo! And we have a new baby snow leopard, gorilla, giraffe, and elephant. There are special hours for the penguins, so be sure to read the details!
- The Sawmill District has several awesome kid places in one neighborhood: Explora Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, Mama’s Minerals, Tiguex Park (Run! Play!), and the Golden Crown Panaderia (empanadas, pizza, sandwiches…), and Old Town.
Toy Stores in Albuquerque
- Bricks and Mini Figs offers bulk LEGOs and Mini Figs and is a fun place to hang out and create.
- Color Wheel Toys has free Make & Take events and loads of fun stuff. And it’s in Nob Hill, which has fun shops for the grow-ups, too (like Oooo! Ahh! Jewelry)!
- Out of the Blue Toys is convenient for Balloon Fiesta visitors because it’s on Rio Grande Blvd., where many balloon chasers and viewers end up! Also on Rio Grande Blvd.: Bookworks and the Flying Star Cafe.
The Best Places in Albuquerque to Take an Autumn Walk with Your Kids
First: the sun is strong in the high desert. Even if the air is cool, wear sunscreen if you’re going to be outside for more than 20 minutes. A hat is also a good idea.
- The Rio Grande Nature Center has lots of parking, a beautiful learning center, and plenty of stroller-friendly trails that take you through the Cottonwood forest to the river.
- Petroglyph National Monument — explore the designs and symbols carved into the volcanic rocks on the west side of Albuquerque. The trails are not stroller friendly, so this is a good choice for bigger kids. Wear walking shoes!
- The Botanic Garden at the ABQ Bio Park is nestled into the Cottonwood forest and has easy-to-walk paths.





