Crowds feel festive at Larry Brian Mitchell Recreation Center

The hustle and bustle of Christmas was certainly felt at the Larry Brian Mitchell Recreation Center Dec. 3-4 with the Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair.

A local holiday tradition in Gallup once again drew in the festive shoppers as they look for those unique whimsical homemade gifts just in time for Christmas. Behind the planning was Michelle Burrola, recreation manager for the City of Gallup. In an interview with the Sun, Burrola said this year’s event was yet another huge success with the numbers proving it.

“This event has been doing well the past [several] years and is only getting better and bigger,” Burrola...

 

Wearing a headband, bowguard, turquoise necklace and moccasins, Joe Kee blessed the new Native American Studies section at the Zollinger Library on The University of New Mexico-Gallup campus Nov. 2.

Kee is an associate professor of Navajo language and Navajo government at UNM-Gallup. He performed a Blessingway Ceremony with a Navajo wedding basket, arrowhead, blanket, corn pollen and water while speaking Diné bizaad to acknowledge and honor the many Indigenous peoples in this country and on this continent, including those from the Navajo, Zuni, Laguna, Hopi and Apache nations who live in the region.

“The purpose for this blessing is really in acknowledging the existence of a...

Introducing a new generation into the world of ballooning

According to the Balloon Federation of America, about 80% of balloon pilots will age out of the sport in the next 10 to 20 years. In order for ballooning to continue as a sport and pastime, the younger generations will need to become more involved.

And that’s exactly what pilots like Marissa Myers are doing.

Myers is the stepdaughter of Peter Procopio, the founder of the Red Rock Balloon Rally.

In an interview with the Sun, Myers explained that it was actually her mom Colleen Marchand who was interested in ballooning. She started flying in the early ‘80s, and she ended up teaching Meyers’ father. When the couple...

What it takes to put on an amazing balloon rally

The Gallup skies will soon be full of bright colors as the Red Rock Balloon Rally welcomes about 140 pilots to town on the weekend of Dec. 2.

In an interview with the Sun, Bill Lee, the president of the Red Rock Balloon Association, said the event usually brings in about $2.5 million to the City of Gallup’s economy as people from around the world visit hotels and eat at restaurants. He said last year saw a record attendance number after they took a year off for COVID; roughly 30,000 people attended the mass ascensions.

To prepare for such a big event, the committee in charge of coordinating it began meeting in June to prepare...