Balloons and music somehow 2013go together. The late NBC news correspondent Jack Perkins, after visiting the 1977 Balloon Fiesta, noted that it’s impossible to watch balloons without hearing music. What kind of music depends on what you like – but you’ll hear music! Musical acts, from Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits to Three Dog Night to local high school and middle school bands, have always been part of Balloon Fiesta. But in 2013, country music fans rejoiced at the addition of Music Fiesta to the Balloon Fiesta’s attractions. The concert, held the fi nal Saturday afternoon of the event, features headliners on the way up the charts. The fi rst Music Fiesta Headliner in 2013 was pop and country music superstar Darius Rucker. To learn more about this year’s Music Fiesta, visit page 22. In addition to the big Music Fiesta concert, throughout the week the Balloon Fiesta’s Main Street Stage features a wide variety of local musical acts, variety performances, and visiting bands, including outstanding armed forces bands and performing groups. The Balloon Fiesta has always been a volunteer-driven 2014organization. The majority of the people you meet at Balloon Fiesta Park – from Zebras to greeters to chase crews to the people who run the RV lots, and drive the shuttles – are Navigators, the Balloon Fiesta term for volunteers. Some, including almost all the fl ight operations staff and offi cials, are in highly technical positions. get off the ground without Navigators. The members of the Board of Directors are also all 2014 saw the retirement of one of the Balloon Navigators. There are fewer than two dozen paid Fiesta’s great Navigators, Tom Rutherford. Tom’s story permanent staff . But the Balloon Fiesta never would is told in more detail elsewhere in this publication, but he was working in radio at the time he became part of the Balloon Fiesta. He became a pilot and Sid Cutter’s business partner, and later served in the New Mexico State Legislature and on the Bernalillo County Commission. For more than a quarter-century, Tom was the Balloon Fiesta’s golden voice, commentating for KOAT and serving as event announcer, notably with Glen Moyer. If you’d like to become a Navigator, it’s easy to sign up! All the information you need is on the Balloon Fiesta website at balloonfi esta.com/Volunteers-New. ® 236 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta