In 1996, the Balloon Fiesta had a lot to celebrate besides 25 years 1996of safe fl ights and soft landings. Most signifi cantly, it fi nally had a permanent home at the City of Albuquerque’s new Balloon Fiesta Park. It had taken a great deal of eff ort and cooperation among the Balloon Fiesta board, state offi cials and legislators, and the City of Albuquerque to acquire the land – a former gravel mining pit – and add the infrastructure to support the hundreds of balloonists and tens of thousands of guests who attend the Balloon Fiesta. Much work remained to be done to bring the park up to the level guests enjoy today – most of it was still dirt, for one thing – but the Balloon Fiesta was on its way. With the move to the new fi eld came new events and other changes: the key grab became a “house grab” thanks to a Sivage Thomas sponsorship; and some of the Dawn Patrol balloonists created a new “Dawn Patrol Show” – a choreographed infl ation and nighttime launch set to narration and music -- performed on mass ascension days. Marge Ruppenthal retired as Executive Director, and within a year Paul Smith became the new and current Executive Director. PHOTO: CINDA FAIRFIELD ® 160 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta