Tuesday 14th – Saturday 18th March 2023
After a closed couple of years, Balloons over Waikato ‘Welcomes Back’ our community to a much anticipated fully open event for everyone, which will include public morning flying, an all-new ZURU Nightglow, the return of Special Shapes, International pilots, and balloons from all over the world.
Hot Air Balloons will bring magic to the Waikato skies, from Tuesday 14th March with the Hamilton City Council Opening Fiesta, lifting off from Innes Common, Hamilton Lake. Throughout the week competitive flying tasks continue each morning from Innes Common with the Grassroots Trust Lift Off, WEL Energy Trust Muffins in the Morning, the First Credit Union Fun Friday and the Radius Care Cash Grab on Saturday morning.
The Balloons will pop up in other locations this year, with the appearance of the CBD Events Walk Through Balloon setting up in Garden Place on Saturday 11th March, from 1pm – 4pm and again on Thursday 16th March from 4pm – 7pm. Then on Friday evening you can either head to the Base in Te Rapa to enjoy the hot & fiery Base Basket Burn or follow the balloons to Mighty River Domain, Lake Karapiro, when the Balloons visit Waipa from 5pm – 8pm.
The Special Shaped Hot Air Balloons are always the stars of the show, and Event Manager Michele Connell, is thrilled with the 2 Special Shapes who will fly at the festival after a 2-year absence.
“We have 2 gorgeous Special Shapes coming from the USA, Tico the Sloth and Tiger. Special Shapes are truly unique and with none residing in NZ, they are simply stunning to see both on the ground and in the air, and we are so excited to have them back with us again”.
Both Special Shape balloons are from upstate New York in USA, owned by twin brothers Scott and Todd Monahan. Tiger stands 22 metres tall, and was born/built in Brazil in 2020. He will be flown at the festival by Australian Pilot Craig Farrell. Tico the Sloth is quite a bit taller, standing 33.5 metres tall, and he enjoys floating through the air, rather than hanging from Trees. He was born/built also in Brazil in 2019 and will be flown by Pilot and owner Todd Monahan.
The ZURU Nightglow this year has moved to a more central location, in the venue where it all began …. The Claudelands Oval. 4 hours of live entertainment will run on the main stage, with carnival rides and games, food trucks and the glorious orchestrated hot air balloon glow culminating in the SkyCity Hamilton Fireworks Extravaganza.
Michele Connell remembers, “ In the 1990s the very first Nightglow was held at Claudelands with 10 balloons and a crowd of around 4000. Fast forward 23 years later, and the event has grown into a crowd of over 85,000 wanting to attend. Our community is a very different place in 2023 and to ensure, we continue to provide a family friendly, fun, and safe environment for everyone, we felt the move back to where it all began at Claudelands was a good one.”
Recognising the different needs of the ZURU Nightglow fans is very important to the Balloons over Waikato team, and they understand large crowds are not for everyone. So, plans are coming together for the ZURU Nightglow to be live streamed as well. Watch the social media channels and website for more details.
However you connect with Balloons over Waikato, whether it be coming to Innes Common, heading to the ZURU Nightglow, dancing at the Base Basket Burn, watching the Live Stream or just standing on your front lawn in your pyjamas waving to the balloons as they float by each morning … this event is for you and we are so delighted to Welcome Back our community, our international balloons and the event we all love later this month.
Visit www.balloonsoverwaikato.co.nz for all the information you need, or like us on Facebook for the most up to date daily flying information.
