Hot air balloons take flight at Albuquerque festival

More than 80 special shapes balloons are expected to participate in this year's events.

On Thursday and Friday mornings, all the special shapes balloons fill the sky during the Special Shapes Rodeo.

Little Bee Lilly and Little Bee Joey are two of three bee-shaped balloons that take off together each year.

In past years, pop-culture figures like Darth Vader and an Angry Bird have made appearances in the skies over Albuquerque.

On Mass Ascension days, special shapes pilots take to the skies alongside more conventional balloons.

If you can't make it to the Special Shapes Rodeo, head to Balloon Fiesta Park on Thursday and Friday evenings for the Special Shapes Glowdeo instead.

Spunky the Skunk, a balloon created in Brazil in 2009, will return to the 2013 Balloon Fiesta.

Special shapes balloons come from all corners of the world. The 2013 festivities will feature balloons from Belgium, Brazil, France and England, among others.

The Balloon Discovery Center in Balloon Fiesta Park offers guests an interactive and educational look at the history and science of hot air balloon aviation.