Belen Celebrates 40th Annual St. Patrick's Hot Air Balloon Rallye in March

Forty years after its founding, the St. Patrick's Hot Air Balloon Rallye is back in Belen this weekend, running March 13 through 15 at Eagle Park on 305 Eagle Lane. The Valencia Flying and Retrieval Society, the volunteer organization that has hosted the annual rallye since its founding, is again presenting the event alongside the City of Belen and the Valencia County News-Bulletin.

Balloons launch each morning at 7 a.m., weather permitting, with the National Anthem kicking off each day's ascent. A remote control balloon launch follows at 8 a.m., offering a smaller-scale spectacle after the full-size mass ascension clears the field.

The morning hours at Eagle Park pack in considerably more than balloons. Food trucks and vendors, organized by the Belen Art League, run from 7 a.m. to noon each day. A car show and the Moose Riders Motorcycle Show both operate from 8 a.m. to noon. The Veterans Memorial Visitors Center at Eagle Park also opens during those same morning hours throughout the weekend.

Past rallyes offer a sense of how deeply the event is woven into the community's volunteer infrastructure. At the 36th Rallye in 2022, the Business Women of Valencia County ran a coffee and pastry booth starting at 6 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, with proceeds directed toward Valencia County charitable services supporting seniors, children, and pets. That same year, tethered rides were offered with donations going to charity, and the event debuted its first radio-controlled hot air balloon display following the mass ascensions. Whether those features return for the 40th anniversary has not been confirmed by organizers.

In 2022, the City of Belen sponsored propane for pilots, with the fuel manifold stationed at the baseball fields at Eagle Park, where spectators could also tailgate after the morning flights.

The City of Belen's event calendar describes the rallye as "a beloved community tradition" that "brings together balloons, food, vendors, classic vehicles, motorcycles, and family-friendly fun for a great weekend in Belen." The rallye's 40th edition marks four decades of the Valencia Flying and Retrieval Society sustaining one of the Rio Grande Valley's most distinctive outdoor events.

For more information, call 505-966-2700. The City of Belen's main offices are located at 100 S. Main Street and can be reached at 505-966-2730, with hours running Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.