This week on What's Up Wednesday, more new tee shirts, an update on Christmas in July and a sneak peek at what's coming soon!
One of the most popular events every year at Balloon Fiesta is the Balloon Glow. A static display of balloons that light up the field by coordinating the firing of those powerful burners. The announcers also get the crowd involved by inviting them to glow with their cell phones. The activity is so popular we do five nights of glows, each with its own name.
To celebrate these popular sessions, we have produced a Balloon Glow Tee. It's a short-sleeve, black tee, with small logo on the front and a full size, full color artist conceptions of balloons glowing in a colorful sky. The words Balloon Glow anchor the design in big white letters.
We have also released a new woman's tee. This pink three-quarter length sleeve features a simple balloon pattern, the words Balloon Fiesta and Alburquerque. Notice the extra "r" after the first "u"? The city was named for the Duke of Alburquerque and at some point along the way, the first "r" was dropped bringing us to the current spelling of Albuquerque. We think it will be a great conversation starter now that you know the story behind the different spelling.
As we told you last week, our Christmas in July sale is in full swing. Final markdowns on most of our remaining 2024 dated or themed items. Shirts, hats, jackets, vests, keychains, magnets, ornaments and more all priced to empty the shelves to make room for the 2025 merchandise. Remember though, when it's gone, it's gone, never to return as we move forward. Use the special Christmas in July category for easy browsing and shopping.
Next week finds us right in the middle of July. And that means it's time for the official poster release. Artist Jason Valencia was in the office last week, signing posters and metal prints and today, we are going to give you just a taste of the poster. The San Felipe Pueblo artist, incorporates Native American patterns into the balloon designs, making this year's poster representative of the southwest. Check out the graphic for a peek.
July also means the release of the Official 2026 Balloon Fiesta Calendar. Every year, people scramble for the calendar at the end of the year, wondering why our supply is low. It's because we start selling them in July. Filled with gorgeous pictures taken by our official photographers, it's a collector's item. It is scheduled for release at the end of July. Mark your calendar and be first in line for a 2026 calendar in just 2 weeks.
As always, thanks for your support of Balloon Fiesta and Balloon Fiesta Stuff.