St. Patrick’s Day Balloon Rallye this weekend

BELEN — Fingers across Valencia County are crossed for calm mornings and clear skies this weekend as we head into the 39th annual St. Patrick’s Day Balloon Rallye.

Last year’s event was a rain wash-out, so organizers are hoping for better conditions this year.

Ballooning is a fickle sport, dependent on steady winds to take them in a favorable direction but not so windy that they can’t launch.

Weather permitting, the balloons will launch at 7 a.m. starting with the Media Day on Friday, March 14, and continuing Saturday, March 15, and Sunday, March 16, at Eagle Park, 305 Eagle Lane, Belen.

Since 1985, the Valencia Flying and Retrieval Society has continuously hosted the rallye, bringing a diverse collection of balloons to the event, and the city of Belen will once again provide the launch site.

“It’s free and open to the public,” said VFRS vice president Nancy Aubol-Hanks.

A week before launch, there were 39 balloons signed up to fly and after the “big” balloons leave the field, there will be a dozen remote control balloons flying at the park.

“The RC balloons stay on the field,” Aubol-Hanks said.

As the balloons are inflated, members of the public are more than welcome to come out on the field to watch and talk to the pilots and crew until they are in the final preparations for launch.

Hot air ballooning has become synonymous with New Mexico thanks to it’s clear skies and balloon-friendly weather, not to mention with world’s largest balloon rally in Albuquerque every year.

“Albuquerque is right there, but a lot of people can’t go because it’s become so expensive,” she said. “We keep ours free to try to accommodate our communities here.”

In addition to the balloons, there will be a handful of food trucks out at the rally, as well T-shirts sold by VFRS.

Aubol-Hanks is also in charge of a silent auction for the balloon pilots and crews, which is held at the city-hosted pilot dinner Friday evening. Proceeds from the event and the silent auction are donated to a local charity, a practice VFRS has held to for many years.

Over the years, the society has raised thousands of dollars for local charities, such as Valencia Shelter Services, Valencia County Animal Services, various food banks and veterans organizations and more.

Aubol-Hanks said the city of Belen has been a very good host over the years.

“We’ve appreciated all the help they’ve given us. The city has really stepped up and given us a home,” she said. “The Rallye gives people a chance to come out and get a close up view of the balloons and enjoy the tradition.”