The Balloon Fiesta has already reached its halfway point. Friends who went over the weekend are flooding the group chat with photos, and the most common question is, "What time should I go to see it properly?"

So today, I've organized a step-by-step guide on how to properly view the dawn hot air balloons based on the remaining schedule. I've laid out the official schedule and compared it, so you can trust this information.

First, some basic information. This year's Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta runs for nine days, starting on Saturday, October 3, and ending on Sunday, October 11.

The morning session opens at 4:30 AM and runs until 11 AM. The evening session is from 3 PM to 9 PM, but there are no evening sessions on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and the last Sunday.

So if you plan to go see the glow tonight, you might be disappointed. This is a common point of confusion, so I wanted to highlight it right away.

Now, let's get to the key part: the dawn timeline. Every morning, there is a drone light show at 5:45 AM, followed by the Dawn Patrol at 6 AM, and the main launch at 7 AM.

The Dawn Patrol consists of hot air balloons that rise into the dark sky before sunrise. The burner lights make the balloons flicker like light bulbs, and honestly, I found this more memorable than the mass ascension.

Let's highlight the key events remaining on the schedule by date. On Wednesday, October 7, at 7 AM, there will be the Flight of the Nations Mass Ascension.

On this day, there is also a Morning Glow scheduled for 6:30 AM. This is a great time to walk among the balloons as they light up while standing on the ground, perfect for taking photos.

On Thursday, October 8, and Friday, October 9, at 7 AM, there will be the Special Shape Rodeo. This is when unique-shaped balloons, like animals and characters, take to the sky, and kids love it the most.

On Thursday and Friday evenings at 6:30 PM, there will be the Special Shape Glowdeo, where these shaped balloons light up, followed by fireworks at 8 PM. Friday is Kids' Day, so they will also be handing out gift bags for kids starting at 4:30 AM.

Saturday, October 10, will be a packed day with the 7 AM Mass Ascension, the Night Magic Glow in the evening, and a drone show at 9 PM, followed by fireworks at 9:15 PM. However, it will also be the busiest day.

The final day, Sunday, October 11, at 7 AM, will feature the Farewell Mass Ascension. If you want to see hundreds of balloons filling the sky at once, choose between Wednesday, Saturday, or Sunday.

So why dawn? The reason is the weather. Once the sun rises and the ground warms up, the winds start to mix, making flying conditions worse.

A famous wind pattern here is the Albuquerque Box. In the early morning, cold air flows from the north to the south at low altitudes, while at higher altitudes, the wind blows in the opposite direction, from south to north.

This allows pilots to adjust their direction just by changing altitude, and if they're lucky, they can return near the launch site. This pattern usually disappears by midday, which is why hot air ballooning can only happen in the morning.

Next, let's talk about costs. General admission tickets are $20 per session, plus a $2.24 fee, totaling $22.24, and it's free for children under 12.

If you drive, parking costs an additional $20 per session. So for two people, the total for tickets and parking can exceed $64, which surprised me a bit.

Park and Ride is a package that includes admission and round-trip shuttle service. The advance purchase prices are $32.59 for adults, $30.52 for seniors over 62, and $20.17 for children aged 6-12, with slightly higher prices for same-day purchases.

The pickup locations are Cottonwood Mall, Coronado Center, Hoffmantown Church, and the Rio Rancho Intel parking lot, which operates only on weekends. The morning buses leave at 4 AM and 5:30 AM.

However, there are days when shuttle service is not available, according to the official notice. Be sure to check the Park and Ride page on balloonfiesta.com before you go.

I'll also share some tips based on my experience. If you're driving, aim to arrive by around 4:30 AM. If you miss the 6 AM Dawn Patrol, you've missed half the experience.

Dress in layers. The early morning field is much colder than you might expect, and by 9 AM, the sun can be quite strong. Having gloves, a beanie, and a folding chair can make a big difference in comfort.

And leave your personal drone at home. Drone flying is prohibited around the event area, so you could get into trouble if you try to fly one.

One more important thing to remember: the Balloon Fiesta may cancel flights due to weather, and tickets are non-refundable.

However, tickets for sessions canceled due to weather can be used for other remaining sessions this year. If the wind is strong and you end up with a wasted trip, don't throw that ticket away; keep it safe.

To summarize: evening events are only on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, while dawn events occur every day. The big picture is that the mass ascensions are on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, while the unique shapes are on Thursday and Friday.

If it were me, I would go on Thursday morning to see the Special Shape Rodeo when there are fewer people, and if I still have energy, I would continue to the Glowdeo that evening. This way, I can enjoy both morning and evening events while avoiding the weekend crowds.

I think it's a real shame not to see this if you live in the area. Set your alarm for about four times, and make sure to look up at the dawn sky at least once this week.