Ballooning for All – Balloon Rally for people of all abilities and special needs. Twelve balloons will inflate and tether offering free balloon experiences to those with special needs.
Wheelchair accessible balloon, Fly the Rainbow, will be onsite. In conjunction, World Down Syndrome Day will be celebrated with a resource fair, activities, food and entertainment.
WHEN: Saturday, March 24, 2018. 7am-11am. Balloons will inflate between 7am-8am. They will stand and tether for as long as weather permits. To inflate and tether, winds must be below 6 mph.
WHERE: The balloon rally takes place on the North Lawn of the Balloon Museum. Parking is free and at the Balloon Museum. Albuquerque Balloon Museum is located at 9201 Balloon Museum Dr. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113.
WHY: Albuquerque is the ballooning capital of the world. Ballooning is a part of New Mexico identity and pride of place. Ballooning is a beautiful sport that requires knowledge, skills and teamwork. The Ballooning for All rally invites individuals to experience ballooning up close rather than from a distance. Often seeing or riding a balloon is a lifetime memory of accomplishment. The local ballooning and special needs community have partnered to make this memory and accomplishment of a lifetime available to more people. With the addition of celebrating World Down Syndrome Day, special needs groups look for opportunities to adapt experiences but also to integrate special needs and general population.
COST: Free Admission. Free parking. Food for sale on – site.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
? Michael Glenn, The Rolling Pilot, www.rollingpilot.com, the world’s only paraplegic balloon pilot from Phoenix inflates his balloon.
? Resource Fair with over 20 organizations representing local agencies serving the special needs community.
? Grinding Gears Coffee Mobile Truck which employs individuals with disabilities serves amazing coffee along with Palate Santa Fe Food Truck selling delicious breakfast burritos.
? Performances by area performers with special needs including Keshet Dance Company and Special Orchestra. Enjoy a climbing wall and the Balloon Museum’s Radio-controlled hot air balloon.
? Balloons and Yoga 8am-9am. View the balloon inflations with Yoga with Breeze Sansom, live music, croissants and coffee bar. $20 per person. Organized by Wellness and Wine. Reservations required with Colleen Constance Franco (505) 452-7208 Includes a $5 donation to Rio Grande Down Syndrome Network and wine tasting tickets.
? Art Exhibition by SHINING STARS and the Department of Health. After a two day process at the Balloon Museum, newly created artworks by individuals with developmental delays will be on display.
? Donate a new baby blanket for welcome baskets organized by the Rio Grande Down Syndrome Network.
? Ballooning for All rally is a part of the Balloon Museum’s umbrella program, RISE & TRY WEEK, March 24-31, offering spring break staycation enrichment and events for people to try something new, be inspired and spend time together. Programs include large events, museum tours, hands-on workshops and drone races. For a full schedule visit www.cabq.gov/balloon
MORE INFO: The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is a division of the Cultural Services Department, City of Albuquerque, Richard J. Berry, Mayor. Located at 9201 Balloon Museum Drive NE just south of Balloon Fiesta Park (North of Alameda), the Balloon Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round. The Balloon Museum will be open on Monday, March 26 as part of RISE & TRY WEEK. (closed Mondays except during Balloon Fiesta). For more information, call 505-768-6020, visit www.cabq.gov/balloon, or call 311. For accessibility, call Relay NM or 711.
Ballooning for All Balloon Rally is made possible by grants and donations from the City of Albuquerque, Balloon Museum Foundation, Sandia Peak, The Arc NM, Rio Grande Down Syndrome Network, Chet and Karen Brown Fund and Richard Abruzzo Foundation.