Good News Roundup: More balloons, alley tennis against cancer and a health fair

Welcome to the weekly good news roundup, bringing you some of the great “good news” from around New Mexico.

A sky fiesta in Northern NM

Though the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta ended Sunday, the ballooning fun continues and will be making a stop at the Los Luceros Historic Site in Alcalde, for the first ever Río Grande Sky Fiesta.

Hosted by the Northern Río Grande National Heritage Area (NRGNHA), the two-day event is set to take place Nov. 2-3 and will feature hot air balloon ascensions, an evening balloon glow and a chance for attendees to sample the local food and explore the Los Luceros Historic Site.

“We are incredibly excited to bring this inaugural hot air balloon event to Northern New Mexico,” Eric Vasquez, director of the NRGNHA said in a press release. “Hot air balloons are part of our culture here in New Mexico and it feels fitting to celebrate that tradition here in the heart of New Mexico, with the stunning backdrop of Los Luceros and the Río Grande.”

Ascensions will take place on both mornings of the event and a balloon glow is scheduled the evening of Nov. 2. A mass ascension on the morning of Nov. 2 featuring dozens of balloons and even an appearance from Old Man Gloom himself, as the Zozobra special shape balloon will take part.

Tickets for the event are on sale for $10 and can be purchased at https://riograndeskyfiesta.com/. Admmission includes all-day access to the ballooning events and Los Luceros.

Breaking cancer’s serve

Eager to put your tennis racket to good use? Well, this week will provide players across Albuquerque with that opportunity during the “Rally in the Alley” tennis scramble event, taking place this Sunday. Hosted by the nonprofit organization Tennis Rallying Against Cancer or TRAC, the event will take place at the Highpoint Sports and Wellness Club locate at 4300 Landau Street NE from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration for the event costs $40 and includes tennis activities, breakfast, mimosa bar, raffle tickets and a souvenir T-shirt.

All of the proceeds from this year’s event will go toward Camp Enchantment. This is an annual weeklong camp for New Mexico children ages 7-17 who are being treated for or have survived cancer. To register for the event, you can visit https://traccharity10s.wixsite.com/cancer/events. Registration closes on Wednesday.

Keeping ABQ healthy

Umoja ABQ, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting refugee women in Albuquerque, is hosting a health fair on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for refugee women and their families. Services at the fair include medical and dental screenings, immunizations, flu and COVID vaccines, food resources and much more. The ree event will be at St. Timothy Lutheran Church at 211 Jefferson NE. Interpretation will be provided.

Those interested in learning more about the event can contact Umoja ABQ at 336-508-0112.

Got some good news of your own?

Please don’t be shy. It’s time to brag about some of the good things in Albuquerque and beyond. You can email your good news ideas to goodnews@abqjournal.com.

Gino Gutierrez is the good news reporter at the Albuquerque Journal.