ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – On Friday, October 11, the International Balloon Fiesta held its Special Shape Rodeo. A look at Balloon Fiesta through the decades: The 2000s All sorts of balloons, silly shapes or not, took to the skies after a green flag was presented during the pilot briefing. In the images below, you can see the atmosphere on the field as balloons inflated and took off. The sun is rising, and balloons begin to take off. Two men wave goodbye to the spectators below A man smiles for the camera as the balloon he's tethered to inflates