By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The 2026 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally kicked off Friday morning July 3rd from the old La Mesa Airfield in south Raton with 16 balloons taking to the beautiful blue skies of Northeastern New Mexico.
It seemed like a slow start to the festivities as spectators milled around and found the pancakes and sausage provided by the Raton Elks Lodge before the balloons filled with air and heated up for flight. During the pilot’s briefing pilots were instructed about the no landing zones around the field and then heard a very positive weather report and the words rang out lets go fly.
Balloonist are still in need of crew members, so make the trip out Saturday and Sunday morning for the closeup work on the balloons.
Stay tuned for more photos and information about the next two days of the 2026 balloon rally. On Saturday the Raton Fire and Emergency Services along with Raton Public Service will have a very big US Flag flying over the airfield in honor of the 250th Birthday.
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