An iconic Waikato event is offering businesses an opportunity to join up and sustain the legacy.
Balloons over Waikato notched up an impressive 20th anniversary this year, with balloons from around the world taking part in the March event.
The event was marked by the return of three of its favourite special-shaped balloons. Event manager Michele Connell was thrilled to have them back for the five day event.
“We are proud to turn 20, and it was exciting to have some of our favourites returning this year, with the popular Darth Vader, the stunning Betty Jean Butterfly and Resene’s Proud to be Kiwi all coming back to us for a second visit.”
The free event, which each year sees the sky above Hamilton and Waikato filled with colour, featured the usual early morning ascensions from Innes Common as well as the City Burn and Markets on the Friday evening. Balloons also headed to Thames Racecourse and Victoria Square in Cambridge.
As always, the highlight was Hamilton’s biggest night out, the ZURU Nightglow on the grounds of the University of Waikato starting at 4pm on the Saturday and featuring five hours of live entertainment on the main stage, food, carnival rides and games, all culminating at 8pm with the stunning orchestrated hot air balloon glow followed by a spectacular firework display.
“Balloons over Waikato is a true community gift, and we are proud of it,” Michele says. “There is not much you can receive in life for free, but we are one of them!”
As one of New Zealand’s last large-scale free events, the festival is however becoming increasingly difficult to sustain in its current form.
Every year it gets more challenging, costs increase but sponsorship and funding does not, and the ability to be successful with funding is getting harder and harder. That was evidenced this year with application declines not experienced previously putting their budget under pressure.
“What the general public does not realise is we are not a council event, or a commercial operation, we are a not-for-profit,” Michele says.
“It costs more than $900,000 to run the event, and keeping it totally free for the tens of thousands that attend is becoming increasingly unsustainable. It would be a great shame for Hamilton to lose this event, but the reality is we need support to keep giving this gift to the region.
“When you talk to people outside of Waikato, Balloons is one of the things Hamilton is recognised for, we are part of Waikato’s identity and an event the whole region is proud to say ‘is ours’.
“We are wanting to promote an opportunity for Waikato businesses who can join us to be part of sustaining the legacy of Balloons at very little cost.”
For $2500, businesses get a great profile opportunity, take the family to the VIP ZURU Nightglow experience and most importantly help secure the event for future generations.
Package:
Naming Rights to one of the festival’s attending balloons – Cost $2500 + GST
The balloon, pilot and your business will be announced and introduced to our audience of 18,000-plus fans on Facebook
• Your logo will fly with the balloon on a corflute sign on the basket for the duration of the festival
• The balloon will be named to include your business name
• The balloon will be announced regularly by the MC during morning flights
• Your business will be tagged in all references to your balloon on social media during the festival
• Your family will receive 1 x VIP pass to ZURU Nightglow Hospitality (2 adults/2 children) with preferential parking
To fly with the Balloons over Waikato family please contact Michele Connell on 021 608883 or email michele@classicevents.co.nz
