Frankie Gomez

Every October, New Mexico gives me something to come back to.

Not just the balloons, but the rituals around them.
The early alarms. The Tom Thumb donuts. The piñon coffee. The breakfast burritos. The warmth of the burners. The friends who come home. The people you get to bring for the first time.

I’ve seen Balloon Fiesta more times than I can count, and somehow it never loses its magic. If anything, it means even more now — because part of the beauty is getting to watch someone else experience it too.

I love this place. I love these traditions. I love New Mexico.