45th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has begun

Dozens of balloons took flight this morning, officially marking the start of the 45th annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Spectators lined up as early as 4 a.m. Saturday to witness the mass ascension at Balloon Fiesta Park.

Forecasters say the weekend is expected to bring partly cloudy weather and a chance of some rain. Balloonists could encounter a cold front that produces strong and erratic wind gusts.

The nine-day festival will feature more than 500 hot air balloons and 108 special-shaped balloons with pilots from around the world.

The theme for this year is “Desert Kaleidoscope.”