Rise and shine: Inaugural Rio Grande Sky Fiesta in Alcalde will feature 15 hot air balloons, including Zozobra

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has since wrapped up, and northern New Mexico wants to continue the fun with its first Rio Grande Sky Fiesta.

The debut event will feature mass balloon ascensions on Saturday, Nov. 2, and Sunday, Nov. 3, at Los Luceros Historic Site in Alcalde, which sits north of Española. A balloon glow will also take place in the evening on Nov. 2. Local food and coffee vendors will be onsite, as well as artisans selling their wares.

Rise and shine: Inaugural Rio Grande Sky Fiesta in Alcalde will feature 15 hot air balloons, including Zozobra

“This is going to be held at Los Luceros Historic Site, which is a state-owned property run by the historic properties division of the Department of Cultural Affairs,” said Eric Vasquez, executive director of the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area, which is putting on the event. “It is a unique location. It has been continually occupied, probably for over 1,000 years.”

Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo is located nearby, and Los Luceros once served as the county seat for Rio Arriba county. The property features hundreds of apple trees and an 18th century territorial-style adobe hacienda, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is currently closed for renovations.

“This property, Los Luceros, is worth the trip itself, but with the balloons, it’s just another reason to do it,” Vasquez said. “... This is a New Mexico gem that most people aren’t even aware of.”

Also on the property, is a visitor’s center, three residences, an 18th century chapel, original village jail, farm buildings, and irrigated pastures bordered by the bosque on the Rio Grande, according to the site website.

“There’s herds of elk that actually live on the property with the residents, so because of that, we’re just trying to respect that we’re going to have about 15 (hot air) balloons, including the Zozobra balloon,” Vasquez said. “We’ll have some vendors, we’ll have a few artisans and it’s a chance to enjoy the balloon fiesta, get up close to the balloonists.”

The smaller Zozobra version will also be at the event.

“We have a group of balloonists from basically Albuquerque and Santa Fe,” Vasquez said. “The Zozobra balloon will be there, and they will be bringing their miniature balloon as well. So they’re going to be setting the balloon up and doing ground training for all their different people. For any balloon, they have to get a lot of people trained up on this operation.”