Scenes from the 2024 Rio Grande Sky Fiesta
Scenes from the 2024 Rio Grande Sky Fiesta (Courtesy Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area)
ALCALDE — In late October, the skies above the northern stretch of the Río Grande will come alive with color, culture, and community spirit as Northern New Mexico hosts its second annual Rio Grande Sky Fiesta, a hot air balloon festival and celebration of local heritage at the historic Los Luceros site.
Taking place over the weekend of Oct. 25 and 26, the event features balloon launches, a glowing evening display, family activities, and cultural exhibits, including low rider exhibits.
Beyond the spectacle, organizers say the Sky Fiesta is creating something lasting: a sense of belonging.
“Ballooning has become a New Mexico tradition,” said Eric Vasquez, director of the Northern New Mexico Heritage Area, the event host. “This gives Northern New Mexico communities their own event. Something that is easier to attend than the International Balloon Fiesta.”
The Sky Fiesta brings ballooning closer to home, offering a more personal celebration.
“The crowds are smaller. It’s more intimate for people who attend,” said Vasquez. Organizers expect 25 balloons on site, including the popular Zozobra balloon, for morning launches and evening glows, weather depending.
However, the Sky Fiesta is more than balloons. This year features a “Trick‑or‑Treat Through Los Luceros” passport adventure, where kids collect stamps at themed stations and explore hands-on displays. Partner groups like the Museum of International Folk Art, Celebrate Planet Earth, and local fire departments will explore the theme “Creatures & Phenomena of the Skies.”
The Trick-or-Treat event will include a fleet of lowriders, celebrating a vibrant cultural tradition deeply rooted in Northern New Mexico.
Kids are encouraged to come in costume, and this year the Fiesta is emphasizing its child-friendly appeal.
“We’re really leaning into making it kid-friendly,” said Vasquez. “We’ll have a custom coloring book and materials just for them. We’re keeping prices low to make it easy and enjoyable for everyone,” said Vasquez.
This is the second year for the festival organized by the Northern Rio Grande National Historic Area which was established by Congress in 2006 to preserve cultural heritage across a three-county area of Rio Arriba, Taos, and Santa Fe Counties. The Los Luceros Historic Site is owned by the state and has served as a film school for Native and Hispanic filmmakers, among other cultural activities.
If you go...
Los Luceros Historic Site
253 Co Rd 41, Alcalde NM
Sat. Oct. 25 and Sun. Oct. 27, all-day
https://riograndeskyfiesta.com/
Tickets are priced at $12 for Saturday and $8 for Sunday morning. Children under 12 enter for free. Onsite parking is $10, but free shuttle rides are available from the Oñate Center and Ohkay Casino (north side).
