Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally

For many years, the Mesilla Valley enjoyed one of the largest hot air balloon events in New Mexico. For many of those years, the Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally was second in numbers of balloons only to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

For the last few years, the event has dwindled in size to where only a handful of balloons participate in a loosely organized flying event during the Martin Luther King holiday weekend.

The Greater Mesilla Valley Aerostat Ascension Association (local balloon club) would like to see the event grow again so the residents of the area can enjoy the colorful and uplifting sight of balloons in the skies over our city.

Unfortunately, the number of active balloon pilots and able volunteers in our club who can organize such an event has declined. The City of Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau has indicated they can provide some funds to help stage a renewed balloon rally, but they cannot take on the job of organizing it.

The balloon club is asking if any other organizations or service clubs in our community might be willing to assist in organizing the event. The club has several individuals who would be willing to provide advice on how to stage such an event, including recommendations on logistics, lodging, site selection, pilot notification and publicity. But we simply don’t have enough people to do it all ourselves. The event could be a fundraiser for an organization interested in taking on the opportunity.

If any organization or service club might have an interest in helping return this event return to our city, please contact me by e-mail at patrick@aero-cordero.com.

Patrick Lamb, President
Greater Mesilla Valley Aerostat Ascension Association