Spirits high despite grounded balloons

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The final day of Balloon Fiesta ended on a not-so-uplifting note, as strong wind gusts forced cancellation of the farewell mass ascension Sunday morning.

“It's far, far better to be down here, wishing you were up there, than up there wishing you were down here,” fiesta attendee Nicholas Ward, said.

The mass ascension’s cancellation didn’t take the wind out of everyone’s sails.

“We're from Tucson, we bring the witch [balloon] over and the cactus [balloon] over, and bring a nice other yellow balloon over. [We] had a great time competing, a lot of fun hanging out with our friends,” Patrick Nilz Sr. said.

Plenty of people stuck around to get their last taste of the delicious fiesta food, like funnel cakes and breakfast burritos.

Many people also stopped by clothing vendors to get their Fiesta merchandise.

By late morning Sunday, the stockpiles of shirts, hats and other items were mostly picked over.

Overall, Fiesta officials call this year a success with the weather holding up for most of the days.

Also, several special shapes made it back from China in time for the Special Shapes Rodeo event on Thursday.

“The special shapes days were perfect, you couldn't ask for better weather,” Fiesta spokesperson Kathie Leyendecker said. “We had a magnificent party and opening day. Albuquerque aloft was perfect, the last three days we've been able to fly.”

As many of the Fiesta goers headed home, they were already thinking about next year.

“I've got a lot of good pictures to show my friends when I get home,” Arlen Millikan, visiting from Tulsa, OK, said.

Even though Fiesta just wrapped up, the Balloon Fiesta crew already has the 2010 theme decided. It will be “Earth, Wind and Flyers.”

Also, officials are already working on the 40th anniversary celebration in 2011.

Fiesta officials expect to have official attendance numbers in the next few weeks.