LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

The Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has become the world's biggest ballooning event, with more than 650 balloons in the sky during a nine-day festival. The Balloon Fiesta has a number of fun events in the week before this year's 4th International Meshing Roundtable. Some of the more popular events that will be featured during this time are:

* The Special Shapes Rodeo on Friday, October 13th, in which more than 60 special shapes (from a Harley motorcycle to a cow jumping over the moon) participate,

* The Balloon Glow on Saturday evening, October 14th, in which hundreds of tethered balloons light up the night sky, and most impressive,

* The Mass Ascension on Saturday and Sunday, October 14 & 15, in which 650 balloons will paint the sky.

NOTE: If you are interested in attending the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta prior to the conference, please contact Tammy Wilson, Conference Coordinator (tjwilso@sandia.gov), for recommendations for hotel accommodations.