Globito Glow in the Village returns to Los Ranchos

More than 50 globitos flew over Los Ranchos as part of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The second annual gathering brought thousands of visitors to Fourth Street for shopping and balloons.

Last year, an estimated 5,000 people attended the event. Organizers expanded the vendor count from roughly 50 to more than 100 this year.

Jenny Gonzales owns Culture Club Salon and took part in the first event.

“We had globitos like right in front of our lot. And the visual of that was just like something you could only dream of,” Gonzales said.

Organizers wanted to connect the crowd with more sellers. Devon Baird owns Village Shops at Los Ranchos.

“We missed out on a ton of opportunities for local vendors to take part in it,” Baird said.

The Village worked with area businesses to grow the market space. The setup helps sellers without a permanent storefront reach buyers.

“There’s an amazing amount of people out here who dedicate their time and experience to creating really unique items that, you know, sometimes it’s really difficult to get a storefront, and so being able to just set up a tent is a really good opportunity for them,” Baird said.

Gonzales said strong sales last year encouraged vendors to return. She said the event gives visitors to Albuquerque a local experience.

Business owners want the gathering to create interest that lasts beyond one night. The goal is to bring guests back to Fourth Street throughout the year.

“Hopefully drive some more investment into creating more opportunities for shops and different vendors down in this area,” Baird said.

Baird said the previous turnout showed strong community interest. Road closures allowed pedestrians to view the displays safely.

“When they close down the road, it’s one of the most awesome experiences down here with the balloons and everything,” Baird said.

Municipal street festivals provide public spaces for retail and seasonal entertainment. Local governments often coordinate road closures to support neighborhood commercial corridors.

Los Ranchos businesses hope the expanded event will boost the local business community. Double the vendors took part this year.