Introduction - This was my first trip with the Traveling Aggies to the 3-day 2027 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Event from the 6th-9th of October that was hosted by Sports & Entertainment Travel (SET), Ltd and included over 100 attendees of various alumni groups with the largest contingency of 32 representing the Traveling Aggies of Texas A&M University. I had been to the Balloon Fiesta many times before, but on my own using local bus transportation form one of the local malls for the Saturday and Sunday balloon launches. This time I was with a group with booked lodging, transportation and on-site reservations. Arrival - Day 01 - All attendees arrived on Friday, the 6th of October and were booked at the newly built Hotel Chaco located in the Old Town section of Albuquerque. There was an evening reception for all attendees hosted by the University of New Mexico staff with light snacks provided, followed by an orientation briefing and a review of the schedule for the next day’s activities. It was a good chance to meet the other alumni groups that included the University of Texas, Ohio State, Penn State, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin and USC. At the hotel lobby check-in, individual gifts presented by SET included a Balloon Fiesta pin, a Balloon Fiesta blanket and a carry-on canvas bag. Day 02 - The day started early with a 3:15 am get-up, board the buses by 4:15 for a 4:30 departure to the Balloon Fiesta Park. The buses get to by-pass the heavy traffic on I-40 going to the event with special bus lanes set up by the local police, so we got there in plenty of time for a buffet breakfast provided by Little Anita’s. After breakfast, you could choose to stay in the Chasers Club reserved tent area or go onto the field amongst the balloons for the pre-dawn patrol and morning sunrise balloon launch. After the morning launch, you had to be back at the Chasers Club for a 10:00 return bus ride back to the hotel. The rest of the afternoon was free time. Some of the group elected to drive up to the Sandia Peak Tramway station located at the base of Sandia Peak and take the cable tramway to the top for the spectacular views of Albuquerque and the Colorado River below. It was well worth the trip. It was back to the hotel and load the buses by 4:15 pm for a 4:30 departure back to the Balloon Fiesta Park for a dinner buffet set up again by Little Anita’s. Again, after dinner, you could stay in the reserved area or go out onto the field for the Evening Glow. The event began around 7:00 pm just after the sun had set with each balloon inflating on the ground and twinkling their burners during the announcer countdowns by specific rows or all-burns, providing a spectacular balloon glow show. The evening fireworks display began at 8:00 pm and everyone in our group had to be back on the buses for a 9:00 pm departure back to the hotel. Day 03 - Day 03 was the same drill with an early departure from the hotel and a breakfast buffet at the Chasers Club. The dawn patrol had a special twist starting with a twinkle glow by all the balloons to start the launch with the balloon carrying the American flag leading the launch to the playing of the Stars Spangled Banner. It was a great patriotic moment. After the main launch, it was back on the buses and back to the hotel for free time in the afternoon. The evening glow was on again with the fireworks display following to end the day’s events. Everyone was pretty much worn out by this time from the early morning get-ups and late evenings, but everyone agreed, it was all well worth it. I, for sure, plan on going back next year and do it all over again. Weather is always an unknown factor for the event, especially the winds, but this year it was absolutely perfect for each event.