45 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2016 Media Guide 2022 Media Guide 2022 NEWS RELEASE SUMMARIES While many of the special shapes will be flying throughout the event, Balloon Fiesta has several events featuring special shape balloons. The Special Shape Rodeo™ (morning) and Glowdeo™ (evening) events will take place Thursday, October 6 and Friday, October 7. Special Shape History Organized special shape balloon events first started as afternoon flying events. The morning special shape events didn’t start until a few years after the first, afternoon launch. The first Balloon Fiesta special shape event launched in 1989. Twenty-eight shape balloons launched to the Albuquerque skies on Thursday and Friday of the event, it was a huge success! The event’s popularity grew each year with 35 shapes in 1990, 45 shapes in 1991, 62 shapes in 1992 and 108 shapes in 1996. The 2022 event will include 118 special shape balloons. Special Shape balloons started their official morning launches in 1993 with a Thursday launch. By 1998, Special Shapes were so popular that they were the only balloons to launch from the field on Thursday and Friday mornings and glow from the field on the same evenings. More information on Special Shapes at Balloon Fiesta can be found, here: https://balloonfiesta.com/Special-Shape.