Annual Christmas Eve Balloon Glow 'really hits home' this year for organizer
Dec. 21—Thirty-four years ago, Todd Kersting had the idea to light the pathway at Arroyo del Oso Golf Course with luminarias.
Since 2002, the event has turned into a community event and Christmas Eve tradition with hot air balloons.
Beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24, Kersting will once again be a driving force in the annual Christmas Eve Balloon Glow at Arroyo del Oso Golf Course.
There will be about 30 hot air balloons participating in the event.
With the event, Kersting says he creates an environment where family and friends come together before celebrating Christmas.
"This year, I want to give the gift of golf to families throughout Albuquerque," he says. Every interested family will receive one golf club to bring to a complimentary golf clinic instructed by Kersting during March and April.
Kersting says his sister, Dana Zito, will be handing out will be handing out cards for Giovanni's Pizzeria slice of pizza in honor of her late-husband Rosario Zito.
"This is a small gesture to the people throughout Albuquerque who supported Giovanni's reopening six weeks after Rosario's passing while leaving Giovanni's Pizzeria on August 30," he says.
Kersting says the Christmas Eve Balloon Glow has become a yearly tradition that honors everyone.
"This is the time of year to really be thankful for family and friends," he says. "In previous years, Dana and Rosario would come help me put out the luminarias. It's very humbling for me to be honoring my brother-in-law. We also lost my older sister in February. This year, it really hits home."
Kersting is also grateful to the dedicated balloonists who donate their time and money to celebrate the holidays with Albuquerque.
The event is free and open to the public, as well.
"I also am taking golf club donations as well," he says. "Because I want to be able to give children the tools needed to play the sport. There are lots of people who have golf clubs sitting at home. This is a way to keep the love of the game going."
34th Annual Christmas Eve Balloon Glow
WHEN: 5-6:45 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24
WHERE: Arroyo del Oso Golf Course, 7001 Osuna Road NE. General public can park in the parking lot and walk 400 yards to balloon glow.
HOW MUCH: Free to attend
