Balloons wait to take off at the 35th International BalloonFestival in Chateau-d'Oex, Switzerland, Jan. 26, 2013. (Xinhua/Wang Siwei)

HOUSTON, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta kicked off in Albuquerque city in U.S. southwestern state of New Mexico state on Saturday.

Powered by the perfect October climate and a phenomenon called the "Albuquerque Box," a combination of weather patterns and geographic landscape which allows balloonists to control and even retrace their adventure, the event attracts balloon teams from around the world.

The fiesta will last through Oct. 15 at the Balloon Fiesta Park, filling with balloons and concessions selling everything from traditional New Mexican food to balloon memorabilia.

In the wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, security has been stepped up at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

During a safety briefing on Thursday at Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque, fiesta officials said that among extra measures, for the first time people entering Balloon Fiesta Park at all gates will have their bags searched, as will people boarding park-and-ride buses.

Police said bag searches had been considered even before the Las Vegas shooting, but that tragic event was the deciding factor in the immediate implementation.

Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world are expected to crowd at Balloon Fiesta Park during the fiesta's nine-day stretch.

Established in 1972, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the world's largest hot air balloon festival, which has more than 500 balloons each year.