Up and away: Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally returns to Las Cruces after a 14-year hiatus

The Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally is once again taking flight after a long hiatus.

The event has been revived, after 14 years, by lead organizer and Las Cruces native, Christine Casillas. The event launches with a KickOff Glow from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, at the Plaza de Las Cruces in Downtown Las Cruces. It continues the next day with a morning ascension at sunrise on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Field of Dreams in Las Cruces. An evening glow will happen later that evening at sunrise. The event will conclude with a morning ascension at sunrise on Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Field of Dreams.

Up and away: The Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally returns to Las Cruces after a 14 year hiatus

Twenty hot air balloons and 15 radio-controlled (RC) balloons will be part of the Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally.

“Friday evening, we’re going to have a KickOff Glow at the Downtown Plaza in Las Cruces and that is where we’re going to have the RC balloons in the Downtown Plaza,” Casillas said. “And those are tethered, but they’re going to be there, and they’re going to be lighting up the plaza there. And then, Saturday morning is going to be both. The full-size balloons, they’re going to do their morning launch, and then the RC balloons, after the full size balloons take off, the RC balloons will then inflate. And then, for the evening, we’re going to have a glow. That’s when both the full-size and RCs glow. And then, Sunday morning, it’s a rinse and repeat of Saturday morning.”

The Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally began in 1977 with 13 balloons, according to a Visit Las Cruces news release. In 1985, it was named the Whole Enchilada Balloon Rally, and later returned to its original and current title in 1988. The last rally was held in 2011.

“It took a hiatus and it just needed somebody to organize it,” she said. “So, my fiance and I were like, ‘OK, let’s do this.’”

Casillas remembers growing up with balloons in Las Cruces. As an adult, she moved to Colorado, where she met her fiance, John Gruenberg.

“He’s been flying (hot air balloons) for about 40 years now,” Casillas said. “He’s flown up and down the East Coast, Washington state, Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico each year for the Raton rally, and of course, (the) Albuquerque (International Balloon) Fiesta.”

Casillas and her fiance would attend rallies that were frequently held in Colorado. Casillas was excited for Gruenberg to experience the balloon rally in Las Cruces when the couple decided to move there.

“We were so sad when we found out it hadn’t been held since 2011,” Casillas said. “And then, through a series of introductions, we met with Visit Las Cruces, who said they really wanted the rally. And so, they’ve become our top sponsor, and they have been fabulous. They’ve done more than donate funds. They’ve donated time and guidance and advice and other resources, and I just feel so grateful and blessed to have them in our corner and bringing ballooning back to Las Cruces.”