The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has been around for 46 years, but this year it made a bigger name for itself as records were broken and tourists from all over the country came to experience this annual event.

People of all types and from all over the world — 839,309 attendees this year — attend Balloon Fiesta, where they’re able to see different events such as balloon glows, mass ascensions, special shape rodeos and music.

A new balloon, “The Superbike,” was introduced this year, coming all the way from Holland; it is the world’s largest hot air balloon, measuring 98 feet high and 144 feet wide and weighing 1,300 hundred pounds. The balloon had never been seen before and gained a lot of attention from spectators, as it was featured on KOB 4 news.

According to the 2017 Balloon Fiesta official program, a new ballooning record was set this year of the longest distance traveled via hot air balloon. A Swiss team of two, Nicholas Tieche and Laurent Sciboz, traveled 2,278 miles, breaking the previous record of 1,998 miles.

People come to this event because it is so unique and fun. It is considered the most photographed event in New Mexico as it has balloons of all shapes and sizes. Abran Mendiola, a student at SFHS, said, “I like Balloon Fiesta because of all of the beautiful colors in the New Mexico sky.” Some of the balloons at the Fiesta aren’t there just for show, either. Many balloons advertise for businesses, such as the Wells Fargo wagon.

Next year, the 2018 Balloon Fiesta will take place on October 6-14 at Balloon Fiesta Park, which is located north of Alameda Boulevard, one mile west of I-25.